Frederica Von Stade & Jake Heggie Set for Dallas Opera's Titus Art Song Series

The Dallas Opera will present opera legend Frederica von Stade, mezzo-soprano, for another magnificent performance in The Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital Series. The one-time-only recital will be presented Sunday, January 31, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. at City Performance Hall (a 749-seat venue located at 2520 Flora Street in the Arts District, Dallas, TX 75201). Also featured at the exclusive event will be Jake Heggie, composer (Great Scott, Moby-Dick) and accomplished pianist, who has had a long-standing artistic collaboration with Miss von Stade.

The program titled "A Life In Song" is a compilation of autobiographical pieces personally chosen by Miss von Stade. It will feature art songs (works composed for a single voice with piano accompaniment) by composers; William Bolcom, Aaron Copland, Jake Heggie, Francis Poulenc, Maurice Ravel, Ned Rorem, Virgil Thomson and others. The recital series was created about three years ago to showcase well-established artists in programs dedicated to preserving the fine art of art song.

Described by the New York Times as "one of America's finest artists and singers," Miss von Stade continues to be extolled as one of the music world's most beloved figures. Known to family, friends, and fans by her nickname "Flicka," the mezzo-soprano has enriched the world of classical music for four decades. She has created the roles of Winnie Flato, to critical acclaim in the world premiere production of Heggie's Great Scott, and Tina in The Aspern Papers (a work written for her) both for The Dallas Opera, and Mrs. Patrick De Rocher in Heggie's Dead Man Walking for San Francisco Opera.

Jake Heggie is one of the most in-demand American composers in classical music today who recently premiered Great Scott at The Dallas Opera (Terrence McNally, librettist) and will premiere It's a Wonderful Life for the Houston Grand Opera in 2016. He is the composer of the operas Moby-Dick (The Dallas Opera premiere 2010), Dead Man Walking, Three Decembers, The End of the Affair and more. He has also composed more than 250 art songs, as well as concerti, chamber music, choral and orchestral works. He frequently collaborates with some of the world's most loved singers including Ms. von Stade and sopranos Renée Fleming, Ailyn Pérez, and Kiri Te Kanawa.

"Jake Heggie's extraordinary new opera Great Scott that premiered in October in Dallas made an extremely positive impression on our patrons, and Miss von Stade dazzled all of us with her creation of the role of Winnie Flato. This Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Art Song Recital is a spectacular opportunity to experience Flicka's vocal artistry and Jake's sensitive accompanying in an intimate setting," says Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny.

We are extremely grateful to the Titus family for its incredible generosity in continuing to bring these magnificent recitals to North Texas. This the third in the series that began with tenor Ian Bostridge in 2014, and Matthew Polenzani last January."