The Dallas Opera announces its 2025-26 season

EarRelevant Staff | 18 MAR 2025

DALLAS, Texas— The Dallas Opera has unveiled its 2025-2026 season, featuring four mainstage productions—all new to Dallas audiences. The season opens with Georges Bizet’s Carmen, marking its 150th anniversary with a production that recreates the original 1875 Paris staging. This U.S. premiere is directed by Romain Gilbert, with Marina Viotti and Saimir Pirgu making their Dallas Opera debuts as Carmen and Don José, respectively.

Following in November is Francis Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, a poignant narrative based on the true story of Carmelite nuns facing martyrdom during the French Revolution. This production is new to the Dallas Opera.

In February 2026, Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince, adapted from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s beloved novella, will be presented. Notably, this marks the first time the Dallas Opera has staged a work by a female composer. The production is directed and choreographed by Anna Maria Bruzzese, with Nicole Paiement conducting.

The season concludes with Giuseppe Verdi’s Don Carlo, returning to Dallas for the first time since 1988. This new production explores themes of political intrigue and personal turmoil set against the backdrop of the Spanish Inquisition.

Dallas Opera music director Emmanuel Villaume will conduct Carmen, Dialogues of the Carmelites, and Don Carlo.

Additional events include the “Robert E. and Jean Ann Titus Family Recital” on February 1, 2026, featuring acclaimed coloratura soprano Erin Morley.

Family-friendly performances of The Three Little Pigs, featuring music by Mozart, are scheduled for October 18, 2025, and February 28, 2026, while an adapted version of The Little Prince will be presented on November 15, 2025, and February 15, 2026.

Season subscriptions are available by phone, with online orders beginning May 20, 2025. For more information, visit the Dallas Opera’s official website at dallasopera.org or contact Patron Services at 214.443.1000.  ■

The Dallas Opera 2025-26 Season:

All performances take place at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, Dallas, TX. Evening performances begin at 7:30pm CT and matinees (m) at 2:00pm CT.

MAINSTAGE OPERAS

• October 17, 19(m), 22, 25 & 26(m), 2025
  Georges BIZET: Carmen
  Emmanuel Villaume, conductor; Romain Gilbert, director. Cast: Marina Viotti (Carmen), Saimir Pirgu (Don José), Audrey Luna (Micaëla), Lucas Meachem (Escamillo). Creative: Antoine Fontaine, set design; Christian Lacroix, costume design. Based on the original 1875 Paris staging
• November 7, 9(m), 12 & 15, 2025
  Francis POULENC: Dialogues of the Carmelites
  Conductor: Emmanuel Villaume; Olivier Py, productipon director; Daniel Izzo, stage director. Cast: Joyce El-Khoury, Patricia Racette, Deanna Breiwick, Stéphanie
  D’Oustrac, and Leah Hawkins.
• February 6, 8(m), 11, & 14, 2026
  Rachel PORTMAN: The Little Prince
  Nicole Paiement, conductor; Anna Maria Bruzzese, director & choreographer. Cast: Kyle Miller (The Pilot), Jacob Abrahamse (The Snake/The Vain Man), Tessa Fackelmann (The Fox), Ashley Townsley (The Rose), and Keron Jackson (The King), Diana Newman (The Water). Additional cast TBA.
• February 27, March 1(m), 4 & 7 2026
  Giuseppe VERDI: Don Carlo
  Emmanuel Villaume, conductor, Louis Désiré director. Cast: Stephen Costello (Don Carlo), Don Carlo, Nicole Car (Elizabeth de Valois), Etienne Dupuis (Rodrigo), Clémentine Margaine (Princess Eboli), Christian Van Horn (Philip II), Morris Robinson (The Grand Inquisitor). Creative: Diego Méndez Casariego, set and costume design. New TDO production.

THE ROBERT E. AND JEAN ANN TITUS FAMILY RECITAL

• February 1, 2026
  Erin Morley, soprano; Gerald Martin Moore, piano.

FAMILY OPERAS

• October 18(m), 2025 &
  February 28(m), 2026
  The Three Little Pigs (music by W. A. MOZART) Family Opera
• November 15(m), 2025 &
  February 15(m), 2026
  Rachel PORTMAN: The Little Prince (adapted for Family Opera)

EXTERNAL LINKS:

• • • The Dallas Opera: https://dallasopera.org/

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