Dallas Opera Announces May Events

The Dallas Opera Guild will present the 23rd annual "Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition," a free showcase for talented young Texas-connected opera singers on Saturday, May 14, 2011 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

This marks the first time this eagerly awaited competition will be held in the acoustically acclaimed Winspear Opera House and it's just one of handful of exciting events dotting the month of May at the Dallas Opera.

There is no charge for admission to any part of the event (although donations are most welcome), and Lexus Red Garage parking is available FREE for the Semi-final Round, from 11:30 AM until 4:00 PM. There will be a $15.00 parking fee for the Finals Round of the Guild competition, which gets underway at 7:30 PM that same evening; however, local opera lovers can obtain a significantly discounted price for self-parking by going to http://dallasopera.org/competition. In the code box, enter VOCAL, click on the arrow to the right, and follow additional instructions to obtain your print-on-demand parking coupon.

Audience participation is part of the fun at each year's Dallas Opera Vocal Competition and, for the twelfth consecutive year, attendees will be given the chance to vote on their personal favorites for "The People's Choice Award."

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That same day, the Dallas Opera in partnership with the Dallas Museum of Art will present A Question of Light Tour and Performance, beginning at 1:00 PM. This specially commissioned song cycle is dedicated to Margaret McDermott in honor of her visionary leadership and support of both institutions.

The event is included in museum admission (although DMA and Dallas Opera patrons can get in free; print a copy of the latest Dallas Opera e-newsletter and bring it with you for free admission to both the art tour and performance). The tour will start at the Visitors Services Desk at the DMA where Heather MacDonald, Associate Curator of Painting will guide us through an in-depth look at the six masterpieces from the Permanent Collections that inspired composer Jake Heggie and lyricist Gene Scheer's luminous new song cycle.

Immediately following the tour at 2:00 PM, you have an opportunity to attend a public performance of A Question of Light in the DMA's Horchow Auditorium as part of the "Performance in the Galleries" series with baritone Joseph Rinaldi and pianist Chie Watanabe.
Reservations are required! Call 214.443.1044 or email rsvp@dallasopera.org
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Mark your calendars for May 24th at 7:30 PM in Hamon Hall at the Winspear Opera House, when the Dallas Opera launches its first "Composing Conversation" with Special Guest Tod Machover, composer of the groundbreaking Sci-Fi Opera Death and the Powers, which premiered last year in Monte Carlo and garnered rave reviews in recent revivals in Boston and Chicago.
The Chicago Tribune gave the new work four stars: "Death and the Powers is a must-see for anybody who cares about the exciting new techno-driven direction music theater is taking in the early 21st century."

Mr. Machover, a Professor of Media and Music at the MIT Media Lab will discuss his most recent hit, as well as his other operas and assorted adventures in music.
Seating is limited; RSVPs are required. To secure your seat for this extraordinary inside look at cutting edge opera-making, call 214.443.1044 or reserve your seat online at rsvp@dallasopera.org.

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