Dallas Opera Opened 2026-27 Season
The company launched its latest season at the Winspear Opera House with a performance of The Elixir of Love.
Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Opera
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The Dallas Opera officially kicked off its 2026-27 season on Friday night with a staging of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love. The production marks a collaboration with opera companies in Santa Fe and Palm Beach.
Why it matters
This production brings a co-produced staging to local audiences, reflecting a trend of resource-sharing among regional opera houses. The seasonal debut serves as a primary cultural anchor for the city's performing arts calendar.
Tickets for the production at the Winspear Opera House range from $15 to $475. The staging is a co-production previously presented in Santa Fe in 2009 and 2024.
The players
Stephen Lawless
He is an internationally recognized stage director who has helmed major operatic productions at houses across Europe and North America.
Soraya Mafi
She is a professional opera singer who performed the role of Adina in this production.
Anthony León
He is a professional tenor who performed the role of Nemorino in this production.
Alessandro Corbelli
He is a seasoned opera singer who performed the role of Dr. Dulcamara.
Winspear Opera House
Located at 2403 Flora St., this venue serves as the primary home for the Dallas Opera.
The details
Director Stephen Lawless updated the setting to post-World War II, featuring occupying American soldiers to contextualize the narrative. Designer Ashley Martin-Davis utilized angled walls with rough-planked doors and a billboard displaying changing images to define the stage environment.
Timeline
The 2009 Santa Fe production served as an early iteration of this staging.
The 2024 Santa Fe run preceded the Dallas premiere.
The Dallas Opera season opened on Friday, October 9, 2026.
A performance is scheduled for October 11, 2026, at 2 p.m.
A final noted performance is set for October 14, 2026, at 7:30 p.m.
Industry Dynamics
The production follows the established pattern of modernizing classic works by placing them in mid-20th-century historical settings. This collaborative staging highlights a growing trend of resource-sharing to reduce costs among major regional opera houses.
Interested attendees can secure tickets via the venue or by calling 214-443-1000. Performances are scheduled through October 14, providing multiple opportunities for local audiences to view the production at the Winspear Opera House.
The takeaway
Co-productions like this allow regional companies to share high-quality stage designs and director concepts across multiple cities. Readers planning to attend should check the performance schedule early to secure seats across the varied pricing tiers.
Further reading
For more information on upcoming performances, visit the Opera section.
More information
For full program details, visit the Dallas Opera official website.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Dallas Morning News.
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