The Dallas Opera Marks Second Consecutive Balanced Budget

Building on last year's announcement that The Dallas Opera had achieved a balanced operating budget for the 2012-2013 Season, TDO is thrilled to announce that it has maintained that balanced operating result to end the 2013-2014 Season "in the black," as well. This marks the first time in fifteen years that the company has achieved back-to-back balanced operating results! The company's latest fiscal year ended on June 30th and the results were subsequently confirmed by an outside audit.

The achieved financial stability and growth have permitted TDO to confidently return to the company's traditional five-production season in 2014-2015 and to continue to diversify program offerings to cover a wider range of repertoire, as well as exciting new commissions. The inspiring programming for the 2014-2015 Season, which includes the world premiere of Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer's Everest, has already led to very strong subscription demand for the current year.

Noted Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny: "It is no secret that the company's finances became precarious following our move in the fall of 2009 to the glittering new Winspear Opera House. Based on the outstanding leadership of three successive Board Chairs - Dr. Kern Wildenthal, Don Winspear, and T. Peter Townsend, and the tireless work of the Board VP, Development, Holly Mayer, the company has been able to dramatically strengthen its financial position, while enhancing its international reputation for artistic excellence.

"A historic $ 2.5 million gift in May 2014 by the recently elected TDO Board Chair, Steve Suellentrop, and his wife Betty (along with Hunt Consolidated, Inc.) in support of the company's education and community outreach programs, has been a major factor in the company's enhanced stability, as well as the gift from the Titus Family to support the fine art of art song through the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series, launched with an exemplary recital by world-renowned English tenor Ian Bostridge last January."

In recent seasons, TDO donors made significant, multi-year gifts while many other donors increased their level of giving in recognition of the Dallas Opera's commitment to the highest standards of artistic quality, strict financial discipline and a demonstrated ability to connect with the greater community-and adapt to the changing cultural marketplace.

After careful analysis, the Board and Dallas Opera's administrative leadership took the necessary steps to put the company's financial house in order and provide a foundation for continued artistic success, resulting in last year's announcement of a balanced operating result for the 2012-13 Season-a full two years ahead of schedule.

The following season, The Dallas Opera made more than 90,000 contacts across North Texas through its mainstage opera performances, free public simulcasts, and community outreach and family performances, in addition to education programs for children, teens and adults. For every patron attending a Winspear Opera House performance, The Dallas Opera reached nearly two more patrons through its myriad education and community-based programs and initiatives.

Aided by unwavering donor and community support in 2013-14, the Dallas Opera produced outstanding mainstage performances of Carmen, Death and the Powers by Tod Machover (simulcast to audiences in nine cities from San Francisco to Stockholm, Sweden), Korngold's Die tote Stadt, and The Barber of Seville; while demonstrating our ability to balance the books and plan for expanded future seasons under the guidance of The Dallas Opera Board of Directors and General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.

Mr. Cerny stands at the head of a leadership team that now includes acclaimed Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement, Director of Production John Toia, newly arrived Artistic Administrator Ian Derrer and additional members of TDO's experienced Senior Staff.

The Immediate Past Chair T. Peter Townsend commented, "I am very pleased that The Dallas Opera is able to report, for the second year in a row, balanced financial results, while achieving artistic excellence and diverse programming for our patrons. Earlier, we announced a return to five fully staged productions this season, including a double bill that includes a Dallas Opera world premiere. These achievements are made possible through the efforts of our loyal opera family of ticket purchasers, donors and our artistic and operational staff.

"As I step down as chair, I want to express my deep appreciation to all those who have made this possible. I look forward to seeing you at one of the upcoming performances in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House."

Board Chair Steve Suellentrop stated, "I am thrilled that the company has made such significant financial progress, but there is further work to do. I invite the people of this community to join me in generously supporting this outstanding and nationally recognized opera company as it enters its 58th Season. In the meantime, my fellow Board members and I want to express our thanks to all those who have already made a commitment to support the programs, performances and highest aspirations of The Dallas Opera."

Asked why TDO has been able to achieve this level of success, General Director and CEO Keith Cerny commented, "In addition to the outstanding leadership and generosity shown by the Board, the company has focused under my tenure on revitalizing our programming, launching an ambitious program of new commissions, and reaching out to the community in myriad ways - including the free public simulcasts. I have also made a number of key appointments on the artistic and operational side, including the hiring of Music Director Emmanuel Villaume, Principal Guest Conductor Nicole Paiement, and Artistic Administrator Ian Derrer - thereby giving us one of the strongest leadership teams in the business."

In addition to the recitals, family performances and mainstage productions of the 2014-2015 "Heights of Passion" Season, the Dallas Opera is currently preparing for FIRST SIGHT/FIRST NIGHT (chaired by Lynn McBee and Nicholas Even) and our ninth free public simulcast (underwritten by the Sheila and Jody Grant Opera Discovery Program with support from AT&T Performing Arts Center and Chase), a live performance of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro scheduled to take place on Friday, October 24, 2014 at Klyde Warren Park (curtain time for the Linda and Mitch Hart Season Opening Night Performance is 8:00 p.m., with special events in the park due to kick-off at 6:30 p.m.).

This season will consist of beloved classics, opera rarities, a unique double bill and a world premiere (Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer's Everest), in addition to several outstanding Family Concerts and Performances, thought-provoking panel discussions, the Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Performance Talks, "Dallas Opera Perspectives" and "Composing Conversations" with the most important creative minds at work in our field today. Furthermore-in the spring of 2015-a newly revamped and expanded Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, with an esteemed panel of judges chaired by Dr. Brian Zeger, Executive Director of the Metropolitan Opera's Lindemann Young Artist Program and Artistic Director, Juilliard Vocal Arts.

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