The Dallas Opera Appoints Brian Zeger as Chair of the Judges Panel for the 2015 Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition

The Dallas Opera is proud to announce the appointment of Brian Zeger as Chair of the Judges Panel for the 2015 Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition. This season's competition will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2015 and Sunday, April 19, 2015 in the elegant setting of the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. The event is free and open to the public.

On the faculty of The Juilliard School since 1993 and Artistic Director of Vocal Arts at Juilliard since 2004, Dr. Zeger is also the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program.

As a performer, Dr. Zeger is a frequent recital partner and artistic collaborator to leading vocal artists including Deborah Voigt, Anna Netrebko, Marilyn Horne, René Pape, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Joyce DiDonato, Bryn Terfel and Susan Graham.

Dr. Zeger has lent a distinguished musical presence to a variety of recordings for EMI Classics, Delos, Naxos, New World and Koch.

A polished broadcast professional and frequent guest on the Metropolitan Opera radio broadcasts, Dr. Zeger has also contributed critical essays for publications such as Opera News, Chamber Music Magazine and The Yale Review. He has participated in countless summer festivals: Ravinia, Santa Fe, Caramoor, Aldeburgh and Aspen, as well as the Cape Cod Chamber Music Festival where he served as artistic director from 1993-2000. This native New Yorker has also adjudicated the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Concert Artists Guild Auditions and the Walter W. Naumberg Vocal Competition.

Judges for the expanded 27th Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition will be drawn from distinguished performers and opera administrators and will also include General Director & CEO Keith Cerny, Music Director Emmanuel Villaume and newly-appointed Artistic Administrator Ian Derrer.

The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, historically, has been focused on singers with Texas roots or academic connections, and its many distinguished alumni include Latonia Moore, Clifton Forbis, Marjorie Owens, Weston Hurt, Steven LaBrie and Jesus Garcia.

As the competition seeks to gain even greater prominence and significance, The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild are making two significant changes:

· First, in order to attract the most talented applicant pool, with the greatest potential, the eligibility criteria for applicants to the 2015 competition has changed. It will be open to residents of all 50 states and U.S. Territories. Competitors must be individuals aged 18 to 32 on the dates of the actual competition.

· Second, the Finals Round of the competition, which will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 7:30 pm in the Winspear Opera House, will be accompanied for the first time by The Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by TDO's acclaimed Music Director,Emmanuel Villaume. Up to six finalists will participate, singing two arias each.

Responding to his appointment as Chair of the Judges Panel, Dr. Zeger noted, "I am delighted to be collaborating with General Director and CEO Keith Cerny and Music Director Emmanuel Villaume on this new expanded format. We are already working to engage a distinguished panel of judges, and I know these changes will allow The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition to reach even greater heights."

Commented General Director & CEO Keith Cerny: "The Dallas Opera is delighted to be working with Dr. Zeger and partnering closely with The Dallas Opera Guild. Dr. Zeger brings an enviable reputation as a pianist, coach, and arts administrator, and we are honored to have him work with us to enhance the competition and to chair the judges' panels for preliminary, semi-final, and final rounds."

"Having known Brian Zeger for many years, I am looking forward to collaborating with him on this newly expanded competition," said Music Director Emmanuel Villaume. "It will be a particular delight to work with TDO's excellent orchestra to accompany the competition finalists next April."

Dallas Opera Guild President Susan Fleming explained that "The Guild has long been proud of the annual Vocal Competition, and our members who work countless hours behind the scenes to bring the competition to life. We are pleased to be working together with General Director & CEO Keith Cerny, Maestro Emmanuel Villaume, and Brian Zeger to build on our past success and to increase the national prominence of this competition."

Dallas Opera Guild 2015 Vocal Competition Chair Ketty Fitzgerald added, "Building on the foundation of all those who came before us, we have a unique opportunity to restructure this competition to enable it to do even more to advance the careers of the best young singers in opera. That is our ultimate goal, in taking this event to the next level."

ABOUT THE 2015 DALLAS OPERA GUILD VOCAL COMPETITION

Potential applicants are encouraged to check TDO's website for more information about the application process, as well as YAP Tracker. The Dallas Opera will begin accepting applications for the 2015 competition on September 15, 2014. The entry fee is $35. Applications must be submitted exclusively through YAP Tracker -- no later than 11:59 p.m. on November 15, 2014. Semifinalists will be notified on January 15, 2015. Additional details regarding the changes to the competition may be found atwww.dallasopera.org/vocal.

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House is conveniently located in the heart of the Arts District at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

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EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE

TEXAS INSTRUMENTS FOUNDATION, SEASON SPONSOR

FOR THE DALLAS OPERA'S "HEIGHTS OF PASSION" SEASON

The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by Texas Instruments

and the Betty and Steve Suellentrop Educational Outreach Fund. TDO Family Performances are a part of the Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA

IS CONVENIENTLY AVAILABLE ONLINE, 24/7

VISIT WWW.DALLASOPERA.ORG AND CHECK THE CALENDAR LISTINGS

Ticket Information for the 2014-2015 Dallas Opera Season

All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise described. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275 and Flex Subscriptions are on sale starting at $75. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

THE DALLAS OPERA 2014-2015 SEASON INFORMATION

The Dallas Opera celebrates its Fifty-Eighth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

October 24, 26(m), 29, November 1, 7 and 9(m), 2014

In a single crazy, romantic day, doors will be locked and unlocked, disguised donned, kisses exchanged and innermost hearts revealed---to some of the most memorable music Mozart ever composed.

An opera in four acts first performed in Vienna on May 1, 1786

Text by Lorenzo Da Ponte after the 1784 play La folle journée, ou Le mariage de Figaro by Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

Time: The late 18th century

Place: Aguasfrescas near Seville, Spain, the Almaviva's country house

Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

Stage Director: Kevin Moriarty

Production Design: John Bury*

Lighting Design: Mark McCullough

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Choreography: Joel Ferrell*

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Mirco Palazzi (Figaro) , Beate Ritter** (Susanna), Joshua Hopkins (Count Almaviva), Nicole Car** (Countess Almaviva), Emily Fons (Cherubino), Diana Montague* (Marcellina), Kevin Langan (Doctor Bartolo), Doug Jones (Don Basilio), Angela Mannino (Barbarina), Adam Lau* (Antonio) and Jon Kolbet (Don Curzio).

Production Owned by Lyric Opera of Chicago

SALOME by Richard Strauss

October 30, November 2(m), 5, 8, 2014

Once in a great while, the term "over the top" doesn't seem nearly high enough.

An opera in one act first performed in Dresden, Germany on December 9, 1905

Hedwig Lachmann's German translation of Oscar Wilde's French language play

Time: During the time of Jesus Christ

Place: King Herod's palace on the Sea of Galilee

Conductor: Evan Rogister*

Stage Director: Francesca Zambello

Original Production: Francesca Zambello

Scenic Design: Peter J. Davison*

Costume Design: Anita Yavich

Lighting Design: Mark McCullough

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Choreography: Yael Levitin*

Starring: Deborah Voigt* (Salome), Robert Brubaker (Herod), Greer Grimsley* (Jokanaan), Susan Bickley* (Herodias), Scott Quinn (Narraboth), Heather Johnson* (Herodias'Page), Bradley Garvin (First Nazarene), Grigory Soloviov* (First Soldier), Jason Grant (Second Soldier), Joseph Hu (First Jew), Jay Gardner (Second Jew), John Robert Lindsey (Third Jew), Steven Haal (Fourth Jew), Patrick Guetti* (Fifth Jew), Tyler Simpson* (Second Nazarene), NaGuanda Nobles (A Slave) and Matthew Stump* (A Cappadocian).

Production Owned by Washington National Opera

WINTER 2015 - A RARE DALLAS OPERA DOUBLE BILL:

LA WALLY by Alfredo Catalani

January 30, February 1(m), 4 and 7, 2015

The Climactic Final Act!

First performed in Milan, Italy on January 20, 1892

Text by Luigi Illica after Wilhelmine von Hillern's story, Die Geyer-Wally

Time: Around the year 1800

Place: The Austrian Alps

Conductor: Anthony Barrese

Stage Director: Candace Evans

Scenic Design: Robert Brill

Costume Design: David C. Woolard

Lighting Design: Christopher Akerlind

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Latonia Moore (Wally), Carl Tanner* (Giuseppe Hagenbach) and Jennifer Chung (Walter)

A Brand-New Dallas Opera Production!

With EVEREST by Joby Talbot

January 30, February 1(m), 4 and 7, 2015

A Dallas Opera World Premiere!

Text by Gene Scheer

Time: Modern Day

Place: In the Death Zone on Mount Everest

Conductor: Nicole Paiement

Stage Director: Leonard Foglia

Scenic Design: Robert Brill

Costume Design: David C. Woolard

Video Design: Elaine J. McCarthy

Lighting Design: Christopher Akerlind

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Andrew Bidlack (Rob Hall), Sasha Cooke (Jan Arnold), Kevin Burdette* (Beck Weathers) and Craig Verm* (Doug Hanson).

LA BOHÈME by Giacomo Puccini

March 13, 15(m), 18, 21, 27 and 29(m), 2015

A passionate and timeless masterpiece in a beloved period production

An opera in four acts first performed in Turin, Italy on February 1, 1896

Text by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after Henry Murger's novel Scènes de la vie de bohème

Time: mid-19th century

Place: The Latin Quarter of Paris, France

Conductor: Riccardo Frizza*

Stage Director: Peter Kazaras

Scenic Design: Jean-Pierre Ponnelle

Costume Design: Peter J. Hall

Lighting Design: Thomas C. Hase

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Children's Chorus Master: Melinda Cotton

Starring: Ana Maria Martinez (Mimi), Bryan Hymel (Rodolfo), Davinia Rodriguez* (Musetta), Jonathan Beyer (Marcello), Alexander Vinogradov* (Colline), Stephen LaBrie (Schaunard) and Stefan Szkafarowsky (Benoit).

One of the Dallas Opera's Most Popular!

IOLANTA by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

April 10, 12(m), 15 and 18, 2015

A rarely performed Tchaikovsky gem, set in Medieval Provence!

First performed in St. Petersburg, Russia on December 18, 1892

Text by Modest Tchaikovsky based on the Danish play King Rene's Daughter by Henrik Hertz

Time: The 15th century

Place: Provence, a mountainous region in Southern France

Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

Stage Director: Christian Räth

Scenic Design: Christian Räth

Costume Design: Susan Cox

Video Design: Elaine J. McCarthy

Lighting Design: Thomas C. Hase

Wig & make-up Design: David Zimmerman

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Ekaterina Scherbachenko* (Iolanta), Sergei Skorokhodov* (Count Vaudémont), Joanna Mongiardo* (Brigitta), Lauren McNeese (Laura), Tamara Mumford* (Marta), Andrei Bondarenko** (Robert, Duke of Burgandy), Mikhail Kolelishvili (Renè, King of Provence), Andrew Bidlack (Alméric), Vladislav Sulimsky** (Ibn-Hakia) and Jordan Bisch (Bertrand).

Another New Dallas Opera Production

* Dallas Opera Debut

** American Debut

Photo Credit: Jared Slater

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