Isabel Leonard Wins Dallas Opera's 2014 Maria Callas Award

The Dallas Opera has announced the result of this year's balloting for the 2014 "Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year" Award: American mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who made a dazzling Dallas Opera stage debut as the headstrong-yet-lovable Rosina in our season finale, Rossini's The Barber of Seville.

This prestigious award is given to a single performer each season to honor a particularly memorable and outstanding company debut. The selection of Miss Leonard, who amazed audiences with her seemingly effortless vocal perfection, her comic timing and her indelible portrayal of an independent-minded heroine, "Rosina," was announced earlier this evening at the annual Board and Trustee Appreciation Dinner held in the Crescent Ballroom of the Rosewood Crescent Hotel.

"The Dallas Opera was absolutely delighted to introduce Dallas to one of the most beautiful and exciting mezzo-sopranos of the 21st century," explained Dallas Opera General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. "Isabel Leonard held her own - and made it look effortless -- in a tremendously gifted ensemble cast that included Nathan Gunn in the title role, tenor Alek Shrader in his company debut, stage veteran Donato DiStefano, Burak Bilgili and Jennifer Aylmer -- creating a particularly charming portrayal of a Rossini heroine that made a huge, and very positive, impression on Dallas Opera audiences.

"The Callas Award provides this company with a marvelous opportunity to recognize the extraordinary caliber of singing artists who grace this stage, year after year," Cerny added. "In the midst of an unusually crowded field of worthy contenders, Miss Leonard captivated the hearts of our subscribers to take home this sought-after prize."

As has been the case for the past several years, balloting for the Callas Award was conducted entirely online. However, the results were verified by the independent accounting firm of Travis, Wolff & Company, L.L.P.

Each winner receives an etched-crystal plaque, created for The Dallas Opera by award-winning designers from Tiffany & Co., which bears the likeness of legendary soprano Maria Callas, who launched The Dallas Opera with a 1957 recital at the Music Hall in Fair Park.

The 2014 recipient responded to the news, by email, with a statement read this evening by Keith Cerny:

To the Board and Trustees of The Dallas Opera, the Company staff and all the wonderful subscribers:

"What a surprise to hear about this award! I am really touched and thankful for your more than generous acknowledgment of my work. It is an honor to me to accept this award and I hope this is the beginning of a long lasting relationship between all of us!

A Million Thanks,

Isabel Leonard

There were nine additional 2013-2014 Season nominees for the Callas Award (artists making outstanding company debuts in a principal role) -- all the contenders are listed below in alphabetical order):

Jennifer Aylmer, soprano - "Berta" - The Barber of Seville

Burak Bilgili, bass - "Don Basilio" - The Barber of Seville

Mardi Byers, soprano - "Marietta" - Die tote Stadt

Hal Cazalet, tenor - "Nicholas" - Death and the Powers

Jan Lund, tenor - "Victorin" - Die tote Stadt

Clémentine Margaine, mezzo-soprano - "Carmen" - Carmen

Bruno Ribeiro, tenor - "Don Jose" - Carmen

Alek Shrader, tenor - "Count Almaviva" - The Barber of Seville

Katherine Tier, mezzo-soprano - "Brigitta" - Die tote Stadt

The "Maria Callas Debut Artist of the Year Award" was launched during the 1991-1992 Dallas Opera Season.

Sharon Sweet was the first recipient for her impressive performance in the title role of Aida. The list of subsequent winners reads like an opera's "Who's Who" from Cecilia Bartoli, Mary Dunleavy, Elizabeth Futral, Hei-Kyung Hong, Denyce Graves, Indira Mahajan, Mary Mills, Patricia Racette, Latonia Moore, Christopher Ventris, Catherine Naglestad, James Valenti, and Ben Heppner, to Greek-born Soprano Myrtò Papatanasiu (Violetta in Verdi's La traviata) and last year's winner, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham who sang the role of "Tina" in our 25th Anniversary revival of The Aspern Papers.

Photo Credit: Jared Slater / J & J Photography