Dallas Opera

[1] In its first season, Maria Callas performed in an inaugural recital conducted by Rescigno, at Music Hall at Fair Park.

Critic John Ardoin described the role of Lawrence Kelly in establishing the company as follows: Many singers made their American debuts in Dallas, such as Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Gwyneth Jones, Waltraud Meier, Magda Olivero, Joan Sutherland, and Jon Vickers.

The Dallas Opera commissioned Dominick Argento’s The Aspern Papers and gave its world premiere, which was nationally broadcast on PBS's “Great Performances” series in 1988.

Recent commissions have included British composer Joby Talbot and Gene Scheer's Everest, Great Scott by Jake Heggie and Terrence McNally, and Mark Adamo's Becoming Santa Claus.

During his tenure, he initiated the company's public simulcast series in locations ranging from AT&T Stadium (home of the Dallas Cowboys) to Klyde Warren Park.