ARLINGTON -- You could say that the Dallas Opera scored some important touchdowns and field goals Saturday night at Cowboys Stadium.
The players weren't wearing shoulder pads and helmets, but rather lavish, colorful and fantastic costumes. Come to think of it, some probably had shoulder pads sewn in.It was the organization's production of Mozart's "The Magic Flute," simulcast live from the performance at Dallas' Winspear Opera House. The opera was shown on the world's largest HD screen in the stadium. The tickets were free and available on the Dallas Opera's website; Parking was free, too. That was a big part of the draw."I love the symphony and the opera, and getting to see it here is great," said Liz Scarim of Arlington. "It's a great way for kids to get to see the opera, too." Ron Corning of WFAA/Channel 8 was the host, interviewing the performers, conductor and behind-the-scenes technical personnel before the performance and during half-time -- or intermission, rather.Having the freedom to watch a world-class performance of a famous opera while digging into nachos and hot dogs was a plus for some."It's my first time to an opera," said Toni Musgrow of Frisco. "I wanted to come and see this."Before the opera, there were tailgaters (including a party hosted by WRR/100.1 FM) and a lot of buzz about the event. Some attendees were seen in evening wear, but it turned out they were Pantego High School students having their prom at the stadium in a special-event area.There were a few problems with the video feed. Snow was visible at various points, especially in scenes with lower lighting. And just when you wanted to go up and bang the side of that jumbo screen as if it were an old TV, the snow went away and the picture was clear.Considering the colorful costumes and scenery, there couldn't have been a more ideal opera for such an event. According to Keith Cerny, general director and CEO of the Dallas Opera, more than 33,000 tickets were requested for the event. The official attendance was not known Saturday night, but if it passes 32,000, it will beat the record for an American opera event, which was set in 2010 in San Francisco.But no matter the final score, it was a win-win for arts lovers and anyone curious about the stadium.Have more to add? News tip? Tell us
