Today : world première of Mark Adamo's 'Becoming Santa Claus' in Dallas

Today, Mark Adamo's new opera, Becoming Santa Claus, with a libretto by the composer, will be performed in Dallas, TX, at the Winspear Opera House.

It is Adamo's fourth opera, after Little Women (Houston, 1998), Lysistrata (Houston, 2005) and The Gospel of Mary Magdalene (San Franisco 2013).

In an Elven kingdom in the Far, Far North, Prince Claus will celebrate his 13th birthday with the party to end all parties; however, a bright star has signaled a momentous birth. Claus decides to dazzle this newborn with an assortment of the very latest toys before discovering that love is the most treasured gift of all. (reproduced from the Dallas Opera website).

The cast includes lyric coloratura mezzo-soprano Jennifer Rivera (Queen Sophone), tenor leggiero Jonathan Blalock (Prince Claus), basso cantante Matt Boehler (Donkey / Messenger), high lyric soprano Hila Plitmann (Yan), mezzo-contralto Lucy Schaufer (Ib), lyric tenor Keith Jameson (Yab), and lyric baritone Kevin Burdette (Ob). The tessituras are from the Music Sales page. Emmanuel Villaume conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Dallas Opera. Paul Curran directs. The performance should last about 90 minutes.

According to the booklet and the full score (published by G. Schirmer) available on the Music Sales website, the orchestra consists of :

- 1 Flute (also piccolo), 2 Clarinets in Bb (also 2 Bass Clarinets),
- Horn in F, 1 Trumpet in C (also Trumpet in D), 2 Trombones,
- Timpani (also Roto-toms) and Percussion (2 players),
- Piano (Celesta and Glockenspiel in balcony), Piano tuned 1/4 b (Harpsichord, Vibraphone in balcony), Handbell Ensemble (spread in the audience)
- 1 Harp,
- Strings.

On Sunday, December 6, there will be a live simulcast of the second performance to the Lincoln Center.

Today : world première of Jake Heggie's 'Great Scott' in Dallas

Today, Jake Heggie's new opera, Great Scott, with a libretto by Terrence McNally will be performed for the first time at the Winspear Opera House in Dallas.

It is Heggie's 12th work for the stage, since Dead Man Walking (2000). The most famous include The End of the Affair (2005), Three Decembers (2008) and Out of Darkness (2013).

International opera star Arden Scott has returned to her hometown to save American Opera, the company that launched her career, but the opening night performance of the long-lost opera she discovered (Rosa Dolorosa, Figlia di Pompei) falls on the same night as the home football team’s first national championship (Go Grizzlies!). The fate of the company hangs in the balance as Arden is forced to consider the sacrifices she has made and discovers that true greatness is a matter of heart. (reproduced from the composer's website)

The orchestra consists of :

- 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 bassoons ;
- 2 horns, 2 trumpets, 2 trombones, bass trombone
- 2 percussion
- timpani, piano, harp ;
- strings.

The cast includes mezzo soprano Joyce DiDonato (Joyce DiDanoto), soprano Ailyn Pérez (Tatyana Bakst), mezzo soprano Frederica von Stade (Winnie Flato), baritone Nathan Gunn (Sid Taylor), countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (Roane Heckle), bass Kevin Burdette (Eric Gold / Ghost of Vittorio Bazzetti). Patrick Summers conducts the Chorus and Orchestra of the Dallas Opera. Jack O'Brien directs.

Today : world premiere of Joby Talbot's 'Everest' in Dallas (TX)

Today, the Dallas Opera (Winspear Opera House) will present the world première performance of Joby Talbot's first opera Everest, as second part of a double bill evening starting with the 4th act of Alfredo Catalani's La Wally.

 

The libretto has been written by Gene Scheer, who has already written texts for Tobias Picker, Jake Heggie and Jennifer Higdon.

On the slopes of Mount Everest, luck and the weather can turn with equal ferocity and swiftness, and dreams die even for the most valiant of men. The opera confronts the tragic events surrounding an ill-fated Everest expedition. (Reproduced from the Dallas Opera website)

The cast includes tenor Andrew Bidlack (Rob Hall), mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke (Jan Arnold), bass Kevin Burdette (Beck Weathers), baritone Craig Verm (Doug Hansen), soprano Julia Rose Arduino (Meg), baritone John Boehr (Guy) and bass-baritone Mark McCrory (Mike). Nicole Paiement conducts and Leonard Foglia directs.

It is interesting to notice that this operas has been rated PG-13 by the Dallas Opera for 'adult themes, intense drama, language, onstage death'.