Certain photos c/o Kristina Bowman for the Dallas Opera
I was thrilled to attend the First Sight Fashion Show and Luncheon last Friday, chaired by Ellen and Don Winspear with Honorary chairs Mrs. Micki Rawlings and The Honorable Michael S. Rawlings. The C. Vincent Prothro Lobby in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House was transformed into a fashion venue complete with runway and Dallas’ most glamorous models donning designs. Fashions from British luxury brand Mulberry, which opened this year at NorthPark Center, were shown and I especially loved the big chunky shoes that came clomping down the runway. Hoorah for comfortable footwear! In what has become a tradition at FIRST SIGHT, five custom pieces—each a representation of an opera produced this season and created by five internationally renowned Dallas-based designers—kicked off the show. The designers who took on this creative challenge were: Geoffrey Henning (Great Scott); Khanh Nguyen for Nha Khan (Tosca); Edo Popken (Becoming Santa Claus); Elizabeth Anyaa (Manon); and Michael Faircloth (Show Boat). Each drew inspiration from the opera for which they were selected, from The Dallas Opera’s incredible 2015-2016 Season, to craft a custom piece, donating their time and materials for FIRST SIGHT. I have been a fan of opera and classical music for as long as I can remember. The love affair started early listening to Mozart and Beethoven as background music for my favorite Bugs Bunny cartoons and I delighted as Alfalfa crooned to his beloved Darla the arias from Figaro in The Little Rascals. The first opera I ever saw was Pirates of Penzance when I was 10 or 11 years old at the Music Hall at Fair Park and I was hooked. The pageantry and extravagance combined with the theatrics and beautiful music was not lost on me and opera has held a special place in my heart ever since that outing. I hope that you will consider taking in a performance this season and experiencing the magic that is the Dallas Opera!
THE DALLAS OPERA 2015-2016 FALL SEASON
GREAT SCOTT by Jake Heggie - a NEW opera production
October 30, November 1(m), 4, 7 & 15(m), 2015
TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini November 6, 8(m), 11, 14, 20 & 22(m), 2015
BECOMING SANTA CLAUS by Mark Adamo December 4, 6(m), 9 & 12, 2015
MANON by Jules Massonet
March 4, 6, 9, 12, 2016
SHOW BOAT by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II
April 15, 17, 20, 23, 29, May 1, 2016All 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 will be available July 15. Full and Flex Subscriptions are on sale now 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.
