Violinist Peter Manning to Guest Conduct Dallas Opera Orchestra for 2015-16 Season

DALLAS, MARCH 24, 2015 - The Dallas Opera is delighted to announce the appointment of one of the most esteemed artists on the British classical music scene, Peter Manning, to serve as Guest Concertmaster and Guest Conductor for the company's landmark 2015-2016 Season.

Mr. Manning will assume the responsibilities of concertmaster for the fall 2015 revival of one of The Dallas Opera's most beautiful productions: Giacomo Puccini's Tosca, designed by Ulisse Santicchi and conducted by TDO's acclaimed Music Director Emmanuel Villaume. This inaugural engagement will be followed by a symphonic concert in the spring of 2016 (dates and program to be announced) designed to include both soloist and chorus-also to be conducted by Maestro Villaume. Additionally, Mr. Manning will personally conduct performances in TDO's extremely popular family subscription series.

Said Dallas Opera General Director and CEO, Keith Cerny: "In keeping with our mission to bring the world's most talented artists and performers to North Texas, it is a special thrill to invite Mr. Manning to add his legendary talents as a concertmaster and conductor to the upcoming season. It will be a delight to bring him to Dallas to be part of the opera 'family', and we are already making special plans for his residency."

Mr. Manning's extraordinary career as both a conductor and concertmaster (he is currently concertmaster of the Royal Opera House, while continuing to conduct orchestras across Europe) make him a uniquely qualified asset to The Dallas Opera. The Manchester-born Peter Manning is widely regarded as one of the U.K.'s finest, and most multi-talented, musicians; with an entrepreneurial approach to artistic direction and curation.

His conducting career also includes work with the Royal Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra, the Edsberg Chamber Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra and the Soloists of The Royal Opera House. Mr. Manning was appointed Professor of New Work at Edinburgh University in 2013; he is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and the Royal Northern College of Music, as well as an honorary member of the Royal College of Music.

Noted Dallas Opera Music Director Emmanuel Villaume: "I have worked with Peter a number of times over the years, most recently when I conducted the 2014 production of Massenet's Manon in Covent Garden. His incredible depth of knowledge of the operatic repertoire, his personal leadership skills, his knowledge of opera singers, and his truly remarkable violin playing make him someone I relish working with. It will be a very special experience for me to be able to collaborate with him on this side of the Atlantic-to the delight of Dallas Opera patrons, as well as those of us dedicated to making every TDO performance an event to be celebrated."

In response to his appointment, Peter Manning observed, "I have admired the transformation of The Dallas Opera over the last five years, and its commitment to the highest possible artistic standards under the leadership of Keith Cerny and Emmanuel Villaume. They have begun creating something exceptional, looking beyond the walls of the opera house.

"With our collective potential, we have the opportunity to deliver artistic programs that could transform the perception of classical music in Dallas. From Bilbao to Berlin, Edinburgh to Sydney, cities throughout the world are being changed-for the better-by the power of great music and art. Cultural institutions can become economic dynamos. I eagerly await next fall, when I can begin to work closely with the TDO music staff and talented musicians of The Dallas Opera Orchestra as a member of this extraordinary artistic team."

Mr. Manning is scheduled to arrive in Texas to begin work with the orchestra and opera administration in October.