Dallas Opera

The Dallas Opera is an opera company located in Dallas, Texas (USA). The company was founded in 1957 as the Dallas Civic Opera by Lawrence Kelly and Nicolà Rescigno, both of whom had been active with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the first as administrator, the second as artistic director.

The company made its mark in American opera long before the upsurge of regional opera in the US, especially with the appearance of Maria Callas who opened the Civic Opera's first season with an inaugural recital conducted by Rescigno.

From 1957 to 2009 the Dallas Opera performed in the historic Music Hall at Fair Park. But for the 2009-2010 season, the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, one venue of the AT&T Performing Arts Center, became the opera's new home. That season included the world premiere of Moby-Dick by composer Jake Heggie, one of many new commissions which have been presented by the company.

Callas returned the following year to perform in La traviata in a production by Franco Zeffirelli and in Medea, directed by the Greek director, Alexis Minotis, two of her infrequent performances in the United States. According to John Ardoin, the long-time music critic for The Dallas Morning News, she sang in Lucia di Lammermoor in the 1958 season. Callas' rehearsal, with Resigno conducting the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, on 20 November 1957 was recorded, as was her performance in Medea on 6 November 1958.

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