Robinson leads off new series

By Suzanne Calvin

The Dallas Opera announced it will be launching a new, three-event “Welcome Back” Song Series in the Winspear Opera House commencing March 31. The company’s first event in the Winspear since it was forced to cease live performances in February 2020 because of COVID-19, the new series will feature four celebrated opera stars in three unique events: bass Morris Robinson on Wednesday, March 31, soprano Leah Crocetto and mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton on Saturday, April 3, and countertenor John Holiday on Friday, April 9.

Sponsor for the “Welcome Back” Song Series is Ann Stuart, PhD, who is chairman of The Dallas Opera’s board of directors, and former chancellor and president of Texas Woman’s University.

Tickets, priced at $15, $25, and $50 for each event, are available now for members of TDO’s subscriber and donor family, with general public sale commencing March 17. 

Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Kern Wildenthal general director and CEO, also announced that all current subscribers (2020-21 season) are being offered the opportunity to enjoy one of the recitals free.

“This is a no-strings-attached offer,” Derrer said. “We are so grateful to our subscribers for their loyalty and their patience in sticking with us through this tremendously challenging period—and we want to thank them by giving them the opportunity to see one of these events as our guest.”

“Of course, we hope that season-ticket holders will also choose to purchase the other two events because these are great artists, and each program is completely different in style and repertoire,” Derrer stated.

He explained that the free offer was limited to one ticket per 2020-21 subscriber, with a maximum of two per household. 

Because of the socially distanced seating protocols, Derrer stressed that seating is limited and urged subscribers to reserve quickly. In addition to mandatory masks and social distanced seating, a full range of meticulous COVID-19 precautions will be in place for the “Welcome Back” Song Series. The complete list is outlined at dallasopera.org in the visitor information section.

English supertitles will be used for all events. Tickets may be purchased at dallasopera.org or by calling the box office at 214-443-1000.