Dallas Opera Announces The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors 2017 San Francisco Reunion

In connection with its twenty-year commitment to address a long-standing gender imbalance at podiums throughout the opera world, The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce that this year's annual reunion of the Fellows of the Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors at The Dallas Opera will take place at the famed War Memorial in San Francisco, California, in partnership with the San Francisco Opera.

Women conductors who participated in the first two residencies are eligible to attend this year's reunion, April 12 and 13th. The intensive two-day workshop will feature career enhancement seminars fromSan Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock, Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, and Sheri Greenawald, Artistic Director of the Merola Opera Program and Director of the San Francisco Opera Center.

"In thinking about how the conductors could get the most out of our annual reunions," explained Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO of The Dallas Opera, "it occurred to me that moving it from one music capital to another would allow the Hart Institute Fellows to meet and work with artistic staff and administrators from the most influential organizations in our field.

"San Francisco Opera is an internationally-recognized leader in the world of opera," Cerny adds, "so we were especially pleased to receive an enthusiastic response to our overtures. I'm certain the Hart Fellows will greatly benefit from this experience."

In addition to high-level discussions and focused seminars with opera leaders, the conductors will engage in hands-on master classes with The Dallas Opera's Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor (and co-founder and artistic director of San Francisco's Opera Parallèle) Nicole Paiement, as well as San Francisco Opera Chorus Master Ian Robertson.

These master classes will also benefit from the participation of some of the finest young opera singers at work in the field today: Adler Fellows selected from the renowned Merola Opera Program at San Francisco Opera.

San Francisco Opera General Director Matthew Shilvock said, "We're delighted to welcome Dallas Opera and the Hart Institute for Women Conductors to San Francisco Opera for a collaborative venture with the Adler Fellows of the San Francisco Opera Center. The Institute is charting a dynamic and critical path forward, enriching the whole field by nurturing a talented group of conductors. We are honored to be a part of this year's program."

The following conductors will be traveling to San Francisco next week, to take part in the 2017 Hart Institute Reunion:

· Elizabeth Askren (U.S.)

· Natalie Murray Beale (U.K.)

· Mihaela Cesa-Goje (Romania)

· Alexandra Cravero (France)

· Jessica Gethin (Australia)

· Stephanie Rhodes (U.S.)

· Anna Skryleva (Russia/Germany)

· Chaowen Ting (U.S./Taiwan)

· Lidiya Yankovskaya (U.S./Russia)

· Zoe Zeniodi (Greece)

The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Women Conductors will meet again for its third residency on November 6, 2017 through November 18, 2017 in Dallas, Texas. This year's institute will include two public concerts (on November 11th and November 18th) in addition to intensive one-on-one's, master classes, career advancement curriculum, and opportunities to conduct the highly regarded Dallas Opera Orchestra.

The institute, conceived by Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny, was created with initial support from the Richard and Enika Schulze Foundation.

Since that time, it has garnered additional generous support from Linda and Mitch Hart and The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.

Mr. Cerny noted: "The Dallas Opera has demonstrated, in multiple ways, its unshakable commitment to reshaping the opera field through the use of innovative public outreach, and by exploring new technologies, commissioning new works to expand the operatic repertoire, and programming with passion and imagination.

"This much-needed program, generously supported by benefactors here in Dallas and elsewhere," Mr. Cerny adds, "will enable more women conductors to add their talents and insights to our collective understanding of this phenomenal art form."

The tremendous success of the first two institute sessions has been recognized by music lovers, opera VIPs and the national media, earning a feature in Opera News magazine (published by the Metropolitan Opera Guild), as well as a segment on PBS NewsHour seen across the U.S.

The Dallas Opera is providing the Institute Fellows attending this reunion with a travel stipend and in-town housing. Most meals will be provided, as well.

There is also the potential for one or more participants to be invited back to Dallas to serve as Assistant Conductors or Guest Conductors on future Dallas Opera productions.

Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America, remarked: "The Dallas Opera continues to expand its influence and stature among American opera companies, as shown by this exciting new initiative. The company is to be applauded for taking a significant step to remedy the existing gender imbalance on the podium. This effort complements OPERA America's support of the work of female opera composers and promises to enrich the art form by encouraging more gifted artists to express themselves through opera."

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO OPERA CENTER

San Francisco Opera Center was created in 1982 to oversee the Company's artist training programs established by former general director Kurt Herbert Adler. Today, the San Francisco Opera Center encourages young artists with major operatic potential to develop and flourish through intensive training, study and performance. Renowned opera singer Sheri Greenawald has served as director of San Francisco Opera Center and artistic director of the Merola Opera Program since 2002. Adler Fellow alumni include Leah Crocetto, Heidi Melton, Patricia Racette, Nadine Sierra, Elza van den Heever, Deborah Voigt, Dolora Zajick, Brian Jagde, Lucas Meachem, Noah Scott and Mark Delavan. Graduates of the Merola Opera Program include Anna Netrebko, Susan Graham, Joyce DiDonato, Rolando Villazón and Thomas Hampson.

2016-2017 SEASON SPONSOR

The Nancy A. Nasher and David J. Haemisegger Family

EVENTS, GUESTS AND ARTISTS SUBJECT TO CHANGE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE DALLAS OPERA

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Contact Suzanne Calvin, Director of Media and PR at suzanne.calvin@dallasopera.org

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The Dallas Opera Family Performances are generously supported by

Texas Instruments and the Betty and Steve Suellentrop

Educational Outreach Fund.

TDO Family Performances are a part of the

Perot Foundation Education and Community Outreach Programs

TICKET INFORMATION FOR THE 2016-2017 DALLAS OPERA SEASON

All performances are in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center unless otherwise indicated. Single Tickets range from $19 to $275. Family performance tickets are just $5. For more information or to make your purchase, contact The Dallas Opera Ticket Office at 214.443.1000 or visit us online, 24/7, at www.dallasopera.org.

THE DALLAS OPERA 2016-2017 SPRING SEASON INFORMATION

The Dallas Opera celebrates its Sixtieth International Season in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in the Dallas Arts District. Evening performances will begin at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday matinees begin at 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise stated. English translations will be projected above the stage at every performance and assistance is available for the hearing impaired. The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talk will begin one hour prior to curtain, at most performances excluding FIRST NIGHT of the season.

MADAME BUTTERFLY by Giacomo Puccini

March 10, 12(m), 15, 18, 24, & 26(m), 2017

The must see, heart-wrenching Italian opera!

Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica

Time: 1904

Place: Nagasaki, Japan

Conductor: Donato Renzetti

Stage Director: John Copley

Set and Costume Designer: Michael Yeargan

Lighting Designer: Duane Schuler

Wig & Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Hui He* (Cio-Cio-San), Gianluca Terranova* (B.F. Pinkerton), Manuela Custer (Suzuki), Lucas Meachem* (Sharpless), David Cangelosi (Goro), Reginald Smith, Jr.* (The Bonze), Will Hughes (Prince Yamadori), Mark McCrory (ImperialCommissioner), Samuel P.J. Lopez (Registrar), Angela Turner Wilson (Kate Pinkerton)

A classic, period production (new to Dallas) from the San Francisco Opera!

THE TURN OF THE SCREW by Benjamin Britten

March 17, 19(m), 22, 25, 2017

A dark and gripping tale!

Libretto by Myfanwy Piper

Time: 1950s

Place: Bly, an English country house

Conductor: Nicole Paiement

Original Production: Jonathan Kent

Stage Director: Francesca Gilpin*

Set and Costume Designer: Paul Brown

Original Lighting Designer: Mark Henderson

Lighting Design Recreated By: David Manion

Wig and Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

Starring: William Burden (Prologue/Peter Quint), Emma Bell* (Governess), Oliver Nathanielsz* (Miles), Ashley Emerson* (Flora), Dolora Zajick* (Mrs. Grose), Alexandra LoBianco* (Miss Jessel)

An acclaimed production from Glyndebourne!

NORMA by Vincenzo Bellini

April 21, 23(m), 26, 29, May 7(m), 2017

A thrilling and suspenseful masterpiece!

Libretto by Felice Romani

Time: 50 B.C.

Place: Roman-occupied Gaul

Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume

Stage Director: Nic Muni

Set Designer: John Conklin

Costume Designer: John Conklin

Lighting Designer: Thomas Hase

Wig & Make-up Designer: Stephanie Williams

Chorus Master: Alexander Rom

Starring: Elza van den Heever (Norma), Marina Costa Jackson* (Adalgisa), Yonghoon Lee* (Pollione), Christian Van Horn (Oroveso), Mithra Mastropierro* (Clotilde), Charles Karanja (Flavio)

An atmospheric production from Cincinnati Opera!

* Dallas Opera Debut

** American Debut

The Dallas Opera is supported, in part, by funds from: Texas Instruments Foundation, TACA, City of Dallas, Office of Cultural Affairs; the Texas Commission on the Arts and The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). American Airlines is the official airline of The Dallas Opera. Lexus is the official vehicle of The Dallas Ope