Five Decades of Opera Service
As we celebrate The Dallas Opera’s 63rd season and 10th year in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, Roger Carroll recalls many fond moments in our company’s impressive history. After nearly 50 years of service and support, Roger continues to play an important role in preserving TDO’s history and ensuring a thriving future as a member of the Orpheus Legacy Society.
Growing up in Oak Cliff, Roger was introduced to opera by a thoughtful 7th grade teacher at Greiner Jr. High School who played a recording by Risë Stevens as Carmen to his class. This began his lifelong love affair with opera. In 1963, while attending the University of Texas, Arlington, Roger received a ticket to see The Dallas Opera’s American premiere of L’incoronazione di Poppea at the Music Hall in Fair Park. He was captivated by Claudio Monteverdi’s 321-year-old baroque masterpiece, starring soprano Patrice Munsel as Poppea and tenor Ramon Vinay as Nero.
In the early 1970s, Roger continued to attend Dallas Opera performances and first became a subscriber in 1975, the year he saw a thrilling performance of Tristan and Isolde starring Jon Vickers. When he started going to The Dallas Opera Guild’s Insights programs, he so enjoyed them that he became an active Guild member, lending his time and talents as Boutique co-chair for seven years and serving as co-president for one year.
Roger was first appointed by the Dallas City Council to the Cultural Affairs Commission in 2009, serving four terms. Among his contributions there, he served as liaison to The Dallas Opera Board of Directors. Combining his career in the Dallas Public Library and his service to TDO’s Education Committee, Roger helped Dallas Independent School District teachers prepare handouts for student performances for many years. Not surprisingly, he is a strong advocate for The Dallas Opera’s education programs, and believes in instilling a love of opera in future generations “to continue a unique art form that incorporates music, dance and visual art.”
Roger believes passionately in making an investment for the future through estate planning to our company and encouraging other Dallas Opera patrons to do the same. When asked why a planned gift has such a meaningful impact, he quickly replies that in his five decades of attending opera, “it is the quality of performances and the friendships he has made in our company that have most enriched his life.” He knows that providing support that enables The Dallas Opera to plan for the future, realize its highest artistic standards and maintain financial security is a promise he wants to keep.
The Dallas Opera is sincerely grateful to Roger Carroll and all our Orpheus Legacy Society members who inspire others in Dallas and beyond to give a gift to future generations of opera lovers. You, too, can join the Orpheus Legacy Society with a gift for our future. Contact Elisabeth Galley at elisabeth.galley@dallasopera.org or 214.443.1057 to get started.