On January 23, 2020, The Dallas Opera hosted a season announcement occasion, introducing the ill-fated 2020-2021 season which includes the planet premiere of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly. Extra than 3 years later, Dallas opera lovers will ultimately get to see the new operate at the Winspear Opera Home as a component of The Dallas Opera’s 2023-2024 season.

The opera is primarily based on the memoir of French Elle editor-in-chief, Jean-Dominique Bauby, who suffered a uncommon stroke that left him paralyzed and unable to speak. Though Bauby could only communicate by blinking, he managed to build a memoir that communicated his passion for life even as he was trapped in his personal physique.

“The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is the outstanding correct story of a man whose determination leads to a single of the most poignant memoirs ever written. We are honored to bring this story to our stage for the 1st time anyplace,” mentioned Ian Derrer, The Dallas Opera’s Common Director and CEO.

The planet premiere operate reunites the inventive group of Everest, a further Dallas Opera planet premiere. Librettist Gene Scheer and composer Jody Talbot attended the 2020 announcement occasion and talked about generating this emotional opera.

“Working with Gene is just so extraordinary. Gene is so extremely skilled. He knows opera from each angle. He’s a singer, he’s a composer in his personal suitable and quite handful of people today in the planet know how to construct a libretto as properly as Gene does, if anyone,” Talbot mentioned.

“I consider what we’ve come up with is anything that will surprise you and win your hearts,” Scheer mentioned.

Talbot explained how the magic of opera permits the story of a  paralyzed key character to be told totally.

“Of course, the a single issue with opera is you can break with standard solutions of storytelling,” Talbot mentioned. “It’s a quite complex, non-linear story which we hope will be a deeply uplifting and spiritually awakening type of knowledge.”

Scheer spent a substantial quantity of time with Bauby’s household and visited the nurses who cared for Bauby.

“I had this amazing chance to hear 1st-hand from the household and get to know not just the story that is depicted in the book, but the story of this guy’s life. There’s going to be a lot of new data that is woven into the opera that you do not know from the book,” Scheer mentioned.

The Dallas Opera’s Music Director Emmanuel Villaume will conduct The Dallas Opera Orchestra for the production when it debuts November three -11. 

“To conduct a planet premiere production as inspiring as The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is an extraordinary and uncommon chance,” Villaume mentioned. “It is critical to give our audiences new and fascinating pieces, whilst also remembering the music we know and like. I uncover it just as thrilling to revisit these productions, as I do immersing myself into a new score. This season has it all and we can’t wait to make music in the Winspear when once again.”

Elektra is back at The Dallas Opera for the 1st time in more than 25 years.

The Mainstage Season will open with the Cincinnati Opera’s production of  Puccini’s Tosca, operating October 13 -21. R. Strauss’ Elektra returns to the opera firm for only the second time in firm history, final performed more than 25 years ago. Elektra will run February 9 -17. A co-production amongst The Dallas Opera, Houston Grand Opera and The Atlanta Opera of Gounod’s Romeo and Juliet with the Dallas Opera debuts of tenor Long Lengthy and soprano Golda Schultz rounds out the season, operating March 1-9.

The final functionality of every single Mainstage Season production will be reside-streamed exclusively on www.thedallasopera.Television on a spend-what-you-can basis with a $9.99 minimum ticket value.

“In an fascinating continuation from final season, we will reside stream the final functionality of all 4 mainstage productions,” Derrer mentioned. “Our commitment to bringing planet-class opera to audiences, wherever they might be, is as sturdy as ever. Creating these performances offered on a spend-what-you are-in a position basis keeps our artform accessible to all viewers.”

Two household shows are also component of The Dallas Opera’s offerings. Performed at the Winspear Opera Home, the shows are developed for audiences aged three and up, are sung in English, and are beneath 60 minutes in duration. The Billy Goats Gruff will be performed with piano accompaniment on October 14 and March ten. Pépito will be performed with The Dallas Opera Orchestra on November 12 and March two. 

The Billy Goats Gruff is a single of two household shows at The Dallas Opera this season.

Specific annual events consist of the Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Household Recital, featuring opera superstar Lawrence Brownlee on January 21 at the Moody Functionality Hall The People’s Decision Concert, a free of charge, season-opening neighborhood concert on October 7 the National Vocal Competitors on March eight and The Linda and Mitch Hart Institute for Ladies Conductors Showcase Concert on January 28.

Subscription renewals for the 2023/2024 Season are offered now with new subscriptions offered beginning April 19. Subscription packages begin at $89 for all 4 operas, with household shows and the Titus Recital offered as add-ons ahead of single tickets go on sale on July 21.

Understand much more: The Dallas Opera