More than half-a-century of artistic excellence and community engagement has made the Dallas Opera a major factor in the international cultural reputation of Dallas and a major contributor to the economic impact of the performing arts in North Texas. the Dallas Opera has presented many international stars in their American debuts, including Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Jon Vickers, and Plácido Domingo, as well as designer-director Franco Zeffirelli. A champion of new work, the Dallas Opera has also presented the American premieres of five operas and additional world premieres. Most recently, the company commissioned composer Jake Heggie and librettist Gene Scheer to create a new opera based on Herman Melville's 19th century novel "Moby-Dick." In 1957, civic leaders worked diligently to found a resident opera company in Dallas, including Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. Miller, Jr., Dallas Morning News critic John Rosenfield, and William A. McKenzie. They approached Lawrence Kelly, formerly associated with Chicago's Lyric Theater, about establishing an opera company in Dallas. Mr. Kelly agreed to pursue that goal and the Dallas Civic Opera was chartered in March of 1957. Mr. Kelly named his long-time associate, Maestro Nicola Rescigno, as artistic director. The Dallas Civic Opera opened with an inaugural concert by legendary Greek soprano Maria Callas in November of that year, and a production of what was then a Rossini rarity, The Italian Girl in Algiers.