A tale of romance and comedy captured an attentive audience during the Dallas Opera 2014 simulcast featuring Italian composer Gioachino Rossini's "The Barber of Seville" at AT&T Stadium Friday.
Children of various ages watched Elmer Fudd chase Bugs Bunny as Warner Brothers Classics' "Rabbit of Seville" preceded the main show on the stadium's large video display.
As the sun set, light dimmed through the stadium's glass windows, issuing in the beginning of the opera.
A star-studded cast mesmerized the crowd and included mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, who played the beautiful and spirited Rosina, lyric tenor Alek Shrader as the smitten Almaviva, Nathan Gunn as the cunning barber and other world renowned performers.
Audience members laughed as Dallas Cowboys memorabilia appeared in specific scenes throughout the opera and applauded after each performer's solo.
Nachos and an opera were not an unusual combination as guest grabbed platters and concession during the 20 minute intermission.
Dallas Opera director of media relations, Suzanne Calvin said the simulcast was a good way to reach out to Arlington residents and the surrounding community.
For many attendees, the simulcast offered a unique reason to visit the stadium on a Friday night.
"It's a good way to introduce my children to the opera," said Arlington resident Lisa Clough, who attended the simulcast with her family.
Nebraska resident Molly Smith attended the simulcast with her friend and said she was looking forward to finally seeing the stadium.
In the end, through cunning and deceit, love and humor, good triumphed over evil and the audience remained applauding.
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