On January 23, 2020, The Dallas Opera hosted a season announcement occasion, introducing the ill-fated 2020-2021 season together with the world premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Greater than three years later, Dallas opera lovers will lastly get to see the brand new work on the Winspear Opera Home as part of The Dallas Opera’s 2023-2024 season.

The opera relies on the memoir of French Elle editor-in-chief, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a uncommon stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to talk. Though Bauby might solely talk by blinking, he managed to create a memoir that communicated his ardour for all times whilst he was trapped in his personal physique.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the exceptional true story of a person whose dedication results in probably the most poignant memoirs ever written. We’re honored to carry this story to our stage for the primary time anyplace,” stated Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Normal Director and CEO.

The world premiere work reunites the inventive workforce of Everest, one other Dallas Opera world premiere. Librettist Gene Scheer and composer Jody Talbot attended the 2020 announcement occasion and talked about creating this emotional opera.

“Working with Gene is simply so extraordinary. Gene is so extremely skilled. He is aware of opera from each angle. He’s a singer, he’s a composer in his personal proper and only a few folks on this planet know easy methods to assemble a libretto in addition to Gene does, if anyone,” Talbot stated.

“I feel what we’ve provide you with is one thing that can shock you and win your hearts,” Scheer stated.

Talbot defined how the magic of opera permits the story of a  paralyzed principal character to be advised absolutely.

“In fact, the one factor with opera is you may break with typical strategies of storytelling,” Talbot stated. “It’s a really difficult, non-linear story which we hope might be a deeply uplifting and spiritually awakening form of expertise.”

Scheer spent a major period of time with Bauby’s household and visited the nurses who cared for Bauby.

“I had this unbelievable alternative to listen to first-hand from the household and get to know not simply the story that’s depicted within the e book, however the story of this man’s life. There’s going to be lots of new info that’s woven into the opera that you simply don’t know from the e book,” Scheer stated.

The Dallas Opera’s Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will conduct The Dallas Opera Orchestra for the manufacturing when it debuts November 3 -11. 

“To conduct a world premiere manufacturing as inspiring as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a unprecedented and uncommon alternative,” Villaume stated. “You will need to supply our audiences new and thrilling items, whereas additionally remembering the music we all know and love. I discover it simply as thrilling to revisit these productions, as I do immersing myself into a brand new rating. This season has all of it and we can’t wait to make music within the Winspear as soon as once more.”

Elektra is again at The Dallas Opera for the primary time in over 25 years.

The Mainstage Season will open with the Cincinnati Opera’s manufacturing of  Puccini’s Tosca, working October 13 -21. R. Strauss’ Elektra returns to the opera firm for under the second time in firm historical past, final carried out over 25 years in the past. Elektra will run February 9 -17. A co-production between The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera and The Atlanta Opera of Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with the Dallas Opera debuts of tenor Lengthy Lengthy and soprano Golda Schultz rounds out the season, working March 1-9.

The final efficiency of every Mainstage Season manufacturing might be live-streamed solely on www.thedallasopera.TV on a pay-what-you-can foundation with a $9.99 minimal ticket value.

“In an thrilling continuation from final season, we are going to stay stream the final efficiency of all 4 mainstage productions,” Derrer stated. “Our dedication to bringing world-class opera to audiences, wherever they could be, is as robust as ever. Making these performances accessible on a pay-what-you’re-able foundation retains our artform accessible to all viewers.”

Two household exhibits are additionally a part of The Dallas Opera’s choices. Carried out on the Winspear Opera Home, the exhibits are designed for audiences aged 3 and up, are sung in English, and are below 60 minutes in period. The Billy Goats Gruff might be carried out with piano accompaniment on October 14 and March 10. Pépito might be carried out with The Dallas Opera Orchestra on November 12 and March 2. 

The Billy Goats Gruff is one in every of two household exhibits at The Dallas Opera this season.

Particular annual occasions embrace the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Household Recital, that includes opera celebrity Lawrence Brownlee on January 21 on the Moody Efficiency Corridor; The Folks’s Alternative Live performance, a free, season-opening neighborhood live performance on October 7; the Nationwide Vocal Competitors on March 8; and The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Ladies Conductors Showcase Live performance on January 28.

Subscription renewals for the 2023/2024 Season can be found now with new subscriptions accessible beginning April 19. Subscription packages begin at $89 for all 4 operas, with household exhibits and the Titus Recital accessible as add-ons earlier than single tickets go on sale on July 21.

Be taught extra: The Dallas Opera