October's Opera Out in the Open, OK?

By Elaine Liner Thu., Sep. 8 2011 at 9:01 AM

Categories: Arts & Culture News, Music Notes

Tim Hursley

The Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House

Dallas Opera and the AT&T Performing Arts Center open the 2011-'12 "Tragic Obsessions" opera season at 7:30 p.m., Friday, October 21, with a live street-level "Plazacast" in Sammons Park in front of the Winspear Opera House. Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor starring Romanian soprano Elena Mosuc and Italian baritone Luca Grassi will be shown outside on a giant screen as it unfolds inside on the Winspear stage.

Based on an epic 19th century Scottish romance by Sir Walter Scott, the opera features several thrilling arias. The opera will be sung in Italian with English subtitles that will be visible on the screen.

Opera lovers up for the outdoor experience are invited to bring blankets, picnics and lawn chairs. Leave pets at home. (The howling might not be in tune, after all.)

"We have found that simulcasts are extraordinary magnets for families and individuals who have never before been to an opera," says Jennifer Schuder, Dallas Opera's director of community outreach. "Although our tickets are priced to suit any budget, some people are reluctant to commit their hard-earned cash without knowing whether it's the kind of experience they're likely to enjoy.

Events like the Plazacast allow them to make that discovery and it costs nothing. Even for those who already adore opera, it's a terrific chance to relax on the lawn, with a glass in hand, to enjoy the music and the performance in a casual, communal setting."

Paid parking (including handicapped parking) will be available beneath the Winspear (Lexus Red) and the Wyly Theatre across the street (Lexus Silver). Additional paid parking is available around the Arts District in garages and surface lots. DART stops a quarter mile away.

SmartWater will provide free water for Plazacast patrons at their tent shortly after 6 p.m. Other food and drink, as well as restrooms, will be available on-site and within easy walking distance of the simulcast.

To join the swells inside the opera house, tickets can be purchased online at attpac.org, by phone at 214-880-0202, or in person at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Box Office at the Winspear Opera House.

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