About Plato Karayanis

Plato Karayanis became general director of The Dallas Opera in July 1977 and retired in May 2000. Under his leadership, the company more than doubled its performances and became a leader in community programming with initiatives in education and adult minority partnerships while producing new American works and earlier 20th-century works. He also led the effort to strengthen the company’s financial base by completing the two-year, $6.7 million Challenge to Greatness campaign in May 1990. In 1998, a rehearsal and production center was opened, providing rehearsal space for both the company and other organizations and in February 2000, the facility was renamed the Dorothy and Plato Karayanis Rehearsal and Production Center. He performed as a baritone in European opera houses before working as an administrator for San Francisco Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. He currently serves on the board of The Santa Fe Opera and previously served as chairman of the board of directors of OPERA America.