2023/24 Season Brochure

2023/24 SEASON

WELCOME

to Arizona Opera’s highly anticipated 2023/24 Season! We are thrilled to present a captivating lineup of beloved classic operas and a groundbreaking World Premiere that will transport you to a realm of musical and theatrical enchantment. Prepare to be swept away by timeless masterpieces in our Main Stage Series, such as the Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard Family Series presentation of The Barber of Seville, Roméo & Juliette, and Don Giovanni, as they come alive on our stage with extraordinary casts and compelling productions.

In addition to these works from the traditional canon, we are proud to open the season with the world premiere of Frankenstein by the brilliant composer and librettist, Gregg Kallor, in the McDougall RED Series. This innovative production promises to be a powerful interpretation of Mary Shelley’s iconic tale, exploring the depths of human emotion and the importance of empathy and connection.

At Arizona Opera, our commitment to the community remains at the heart of everything we do. Through our impactful statewide education and community engagement programs, we aim to share the joy of opera with audiences of all ages and backgrounds. Our training programs for aspiring opera artists and artisans continue to support the next generation of talent, ensuring a vibrant future for this timeless art form.

We invite you to join us on this unforgettable journey as we celebrate the beauty and power of opera in the 2023/24 Season. Prepare to be captivated, moved, and inspired by the extraordinary performances that await you.

We are grateful for the support of this incredible community, which makes all of this possible.

Joseph Specter President and General Director

2023/24 EVENTS

2.29

Join us for our inaugural New Works Festival, taking place in November at the Arizona Opera Center—a vibrant, immersive experience highlighting selections from operas that are new to the canon. Be the first to preview these poignant works in Arizona, which may even be featured in a future Arizona Opera season.

Live performances, opera film screenings, stimulating discussions, delicious food and beverages, and a spirited atmosphere will carry throughout this weekend long event. Ranging from romantic thrillers to majestic marvels to light-hearted comedies, the Festival’s offerings will have you mesmerized as soon as the lights dim in the theatre.

Zorro

Héctor Armienta, Composer and Librettist

Based on and inspired by the masked vigilante of pulp fiction fame, Zorro is a swashbuckling adventure opera. Set in Los Angeles when it was still a colony of Spain, this re-telling of the Zorro legend naturally follows Diego de la Vega, esteemed swordsman and Spanish nobleman, as he fights for the poor and enslaved. Filled with all the romance, swordplay, and humor that is a trademark of the Zorro universe.

Intimate Apparel

Ricky Ian Gordon, Composer Lynn Nottage, Librettist

Set in turn of the century New York, Intimate Apparel tells the story of Esther, a lonely African American woman who works sewing beautiful corsets and ladies’ undergarments. Seeking love and romance, Esther enters a letterwriting relationship with a mysterious suitor laboring on the Panama Canal. When he moves to New York, they embark on an unhappy marriage, leading Esther to realize that only her self-reliance and certainty of her own worth will see her through life’s challenges.

Part of the McDougall Arizona Opera RED Series. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Ron and Kay McDougall, Carol Franc Buck Foundation, and Michael and Beth Kasser.

Artist: Stephen Gilliam

Photo: Julieta Cervantes

NOV 3, 4, & 5, 2023 ARIZONA OPERA CENTER, PHOENIX

Lawrence Brownlee in Recital

Presented in partnership with the Tucson Desert Song Festival

MAR 13, 2024 at 7:30 PM

HOLSCLAW HALL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, TUCSON

Since the inception of its long-standing partnership with the Tucson Desert Song Festival, Arizona Opera has collaborated with the Festival to bring some of today’s greatest artists to perform in Arizona Opera’s birth city. Over the years, this partnership has brought nearly two dozen recitals of illustrious artists like Susan Graham, Matthew Polenzani, Lisette Oropesa, and Angel Blue. The 2023/24 Season continues this rich tradition with tenor Lawrence Brownlee. For more information, visit azopera.org/tucson-desert-song-festival.

Opera OUTDOORS

Arizona Opera explores Tucson through a series of outdoor performances throughout the 2023/24 Season. Take a break from your day and enjoy opera in a setting that is casual and fun for the entire family. Look for us in your neighborhood, in the park, or around downtown. We can’t wait to see you! For more information, visit azopera.org/opera-outdoors.

OCT 20, 2023 at 12:15 PM

FEB 2, 2024 at 12:15 PM

MAR 8, 2024 at 12:15 PM

APR 26, 2024 at 12:15 PM

CREATION

Frankenstein

Arizona Opera’s eagerly-awaited third World Premiere, based on Mary Shelley’s iconic novel by the same name, comes to the stage to open the 2023/24 Season in the McDougall RED Series. With a riveting, cinematic score and libretto by Gregg Kallor, the living, feeling Creature is brought to life only to be forsaken by its creator, Victor Frankenstein. Embracing Shelley’s original text, Frankenstein gives poignant voice to The Creature’s struggle and lays bare the horror of alienation and “otherness” with exquisite nuance.

PHOENIX

OCT 13, 14, & 15, 2023

HERBERGER THEATER CENTER

TUCSON

OCT 21 & 22, 2023

THE TEMPLE OF MUSIC AND ART

COMPOSER AND LIBRETTIST

Gregg Kallor

Adapted from the novel by Mary Shelley

CONDUCTOR

Clinton Smith

STAGE DIRECTOR

Sarah Meyers

THE CREATURE

Edward Parks

VICTOR FRANKENSTEIN

Terrence Chin-Loy

ELIZABETH LAVENZA

Katherine Beck

SETS, COSTUMES, & PROJECTION DESIGNER

Bretta Gerecke

LIGHTING DESIGNER & VIDEO IMPLEMENTATION

Tláloc López-Watermann

DRAMATURG

Cori Ellison

For full cast list, scan the QR code below, visit azopera.org, or download our app.

Frankenstein is part of the McDougall Arizona Opera RED Series. New commission funded, in part, by a gift from Linda and Stuart* Nelson. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Ron and Kay McDougall, Karen Wadman, Dr. Herschel Rosenzweig, Carol Franc Buck Foundation, Susan Esco Chandler, Richard P Stahl Charitable Trust, Michael and Beth Kasser, Lewis Roca, Peggy Reiley and Richard Sheaff, in honor of Dana Sheaff, Bankers Trust, and GymGuyz. The company debut of Sarah Ina Meyers was partially supported by OPERA America’s Opera Grants for Women Stage Directors and Conductors, generously funded by the Marineau Family Foundation.

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

PHOENIX

JAN 27 & 28, 2024

SYMPHONY HALL

TUCSON

FEB 3 & 4, 2024

THE LINDA RONSTADT

MUSIC HALL

COMPOSER

Gioachino Rossini

LIBRETTIST

Cesare Sterbini

CONDUCTOR

Roberto Kalb

STAGE DIRECTOR

Joshua Borths

FIGARO

Alexander Birch Elliott

Schyler Vargas

ROSINA

Elizabeth Sutphen

Véronique Filloux

ALMAVIVA

Santiago Ballerini

Brian Wallin

BARTOLO

Aubrey Allicock

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Barry Steele

For full cast list, scan the QR code below, visit azopera.org, or download our app.

The Barber of Seville

Allan-Stallard Family Series

Love, mistaken identity, and humor are woven throughout

The Barber of Seville, Rossini’s comic opera masterpiece. Count Almaviva falls hopelessly in love with the beautiful Rosina, the young ward of Bartolo who intends to marry her. Dressed in disguise, Almaviva tries to earn Rosina’s affection for who he really is, rather than for his money and status. Through a series of hijinks, Almaviva assumes multiple identities as he pursues Rosina and evades the disgruntled Bartolo, with love and laughter triumphing in the end.

Part of the Arizona Opera Main Stage Series and the Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard Family Series. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Tucson Foundations, and Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard. The appearance of Aubrey Allicock is supported, in part, by Tucson Desert Song Festival.

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

DECEPTION

PASSION

Gounod’s romantic and rapturous music sets the stage for this tale of star-crossed lovers, based on Shakespeare’s play about the feuding Montague and Capulet families in Verona. Lovesick

Roméo Montague falls instantly in love with Juliette Capulet, who fervently loves him back despite being pledged to marry Count Paris. Roméo and Juliette fake their deaths in a desperate attempt to be together, culminating in an ending for these lovers that is as tragic as it is heartbreakingly beautiful.

Roméo & Juliette

PHOENIX

MAR 2 & 3, 2024

SYMPHONY HALL

TUCSON

MAR 9 & 10, 2024

THE LINDA RONSTADT

MUSIC HALL

COMPOSER

Charles Gounod

LIBRETTISTS

Jules Barbier

Michel Carré

CONDUCTOR

Stephanie Rhodes Russell

STAGE DIRECTOR

Patricia Racette

ROMÉO

Mario Chang

Terrence Chin-Loy

JULIETTE

Jacqueline Echols

Caitlin Gotimer

MERCUTIO

Schyler Vargas

FRIAR LAURENT

Matthew Anchel

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Barry Steele

For full cast list, scan the QR code below, visit azopera.org, or download our app.

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

Part of the Arizona Opera Main Stage Series. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from SRP, Barbara Molotsky, Marlene Rausch, Morton Munk, and Rio Nuevo.

APR

SYMPHONY HALL

TUCSON

APR 27 & 28, 2024

THE LINDA RONSTADT

MUSIC HALL

COMPOSER

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

LIBRETTIST

Lorenzo Da Ponte

CONDUCTOR

Daniela Candillari

STAGE DIRECTOR

Tara Faircloth

DON GIOVANNI

Richard Ollarsaba

Joseph Lattanzi

LEPORELLO

Zachary Nelson

DONNA ANNA

Vanessa Vasquez

Lydia Grindatto

DONNA ELVIRA

Toni Marie Palmertree

Mary-Hollis Hundley

ZERLINA

Vanessa Becerra

Véronique Filloux

DON OTTAVIO

Brad Bickhardt

PRODUCTION DESIGNER

Barry Steele

For full cast list, scan the QR code below, visit azopera.org, or download our app.

Mozart’s Don Giovanni, regarded by many as one of the greatest operas of all time, tells the centuries-old story of the libertine Don Juan. Don Giovanni tries to seduce Donna Anna, which goes awry and he ends up killing her father, the Commendatore, unbeknownst to her. The opera follows Don Giovanni’s salacious escapades and Donna Anna’s attempts to ultimately avenge her father. When offered the chance to change his ways, will Don Giovanni repent?

Don Giovanni

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

Part of the Arizona Opera Main Stage Series. Production made possible, in part, through generous support from Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard

PHOENIX

Full Season

RUBY $526

GOLD $368

COPPER $272

BRONZE $196

SILVER $132

ICONIC

Package includes tickets to:

Frankenstein at Herberger Theater Center

The Barber of Seville

Roméo & Juliette

Don Giovanni at Symphony Hall

Main Stage Series

RUBY $414

GOLD $280

COPPER $212

BRONZE $156

SILVER $108

Package includes tickets to: The Barber of Seville

Roméo & Juliette

Don Giovanni at Symphony Hall

Studio Cabaret at the Roma and Raymond Wittcoff Black Box at the Arizona Opera Center

GENERAL ADMISSION $20

Single Tickets

azopera.org

New Works Festival at the Roma and Raymond Wittcoff Black Box at the Arizona Opera Center

RISER $20

FLOOR $35

CABARET TABLE $50

Frankenstein The Barber of Seville Roméo & Juliette Don Giovanni

RUBY $140 $160 $140 $160

GOLD $110 $120 $110 $120

COPPER $75 $90 $85 $90

BRONZE $50 $65 $65 $65

SILVER $30 $45 $45 $45

ONYX X $30 $30 $30

Main Stage Series

NEXTGEN

Arizona Opera NextGen is an initiative that encompasses a wide variety of programs that go beyond the opera stage to develop the next generation of opera artists, audiences, and philanthropists.

Arizona Opera’s NextGen programs are made possible, in part, thanks to generous support from: The Kemper and Ethel Marley Foundation, Jeannette Segel, The Molly Blank Fund, APS, Milo and Kim Kauffman, and a consortium of individual donors.

Education

Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity School Tours

The Brewster OperaTunity program is the perfect introduction to opera for students; traveling to schools across the state performing short adapted operas. Performances are presented in English and designed for K-8 audiences.

Family Day

This event features a live performance from the Arlyn M. Brewster OperaTunity troupe, arts and crafts, a photobooth, and more!

Special Discount for Teachers and Students

Teachers always receive $25 tickets to any Arizona Opera production. Simply call the Box Office at 602.266.7464 (Phoenix) or 520.293.4336 (Tucson) and tell them you are redeeming a $25 teacher ticket. No limit to the number of performances you attend. Teachers must show their school ID to redeem tickets.

Student Rush tickets are available for $10 at the door night of the show. Students must show their school ID to redeem tickets.

PHOENIX ONLY:

Student Previews

Students are invited to Arizona Opera’s final dress rehearsal performances to get swept away by great stories and enhance learning. These previews are open to K-12 student field trips, college students, families, and life-long learners. Registration is required and seats are limited.

Student Backstage Tours

Led by Arizona Opera’s Production Department, high school students are invited to tour a number of backstage production areas as they learn the ins and outs of theater.

TUCSON ONLY:

Tucson Seats-For-Students

Special tickets are reserved specifically for students to enjoy stunning music and expand their creativity. Seats are reserved for Saturday Main Stage performances at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall. Registration is required and seats are limited.

For more information, please visit azopera.org or contact our Education and Community Engagement Department at education@azopera.org.

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

With a robust array of K-12 education programs, Arizona Opera’s Department of Education reaches over 50,000 students each year.

Arizona Opera’s Education and Community Engagement programs are made possible, in part, thanks to the support of: Dr. Herschel Rosenzweig, Invest in Kids Charitable Fund, The Moreno Family Foundation, A Gift in Memory of Elsa Reichenbach, The City of Peoria, Cardinals Charities, the Krumholz Foundation, the William E. Hall Foundation held at the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, and a consortium of individual donors.

STUDIO CABARET

MAR 21, 2024 at 7:30 PM Arizona Opera Center, Phoenix

MAR 24, 2024 at 2 PM Temple of Music and Art, Tucson

This immersive Cabaret experience will highlight classical Musical Theatre, Golden Age Songs, contemporary tunes, and opera samplings sung by members of the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio.

Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio

Established in 2007, the Pullin Opera Studio bridges the gap between academic studies and a professional career, and ranks among the most competitive training programs in the United States. Studio Artists are in residence all season, performing both on our Main Stage and throughout Arizona, while receiving wellrounded personalized instruction designed to propel each artist to the next level.

2023/24 STUDIO ARTISTS

Sponsored

For more information, please visit azopera.org or contact our Artistic Department at artistic@azopera.org.

John Holiday studio cabaret host

Peter Barber bass-baritone

Sponsored by Marlu Allan and Scott Stallard

Brad Bickhardt tenor

by Alan and Linda Englander, and Ole and Teri Thienhaus

Lauren Cook mezzo-soprano

Sponsored by Drs. Tom and Ginger Collier

Véronique Filloux soprano Sponsored by Ron and Kay McDougall

Kihwa Kim pianist Sponsored by Matt and Ann Melsheimer

Mario Pacheco asst. stage director

Sponsored by Shoshana B. Tancer and Helen S. Pierson

Schyler Vargas baritone

Sponsored by Roma Wittcoff

Photos: Tim Trumble Photography

the BOLD card

Arizona Opera Production Apprentices

The Arizona Opera Production Apprentice Program provides a unique opportunity for the next generation of aspiring theater technicians and artisans to transition from academic training to the professional world. Apprentices are given the opportunity to work alongside guest designers and Arizona Opera staff while engaging in all aspects of what it takes to produce quality performances: lighting design, projections, props, costumes, wigs and makeup, and stage management.

For more information, please visit azopera.org or contact our Production Department at production@azopera.org.

Connect with young opera fans like yourself by becoming a BOLD Card member! Exclusively for opera fans 40 and under.

Benefits include:

• 4 best available tickets for our McDougall RED and Main Stage Series performances, all for only $100 – That’s only $25 per ticket!

• 1 free drink at each performance

• Free Be BOLD t-shirt

• Free swag

• Access to exclusive BOLD events And more!

2023/24 PRODUCTION APPRENTICES

Kenzie Laughlin

2nd year costume apprentice

April Maytorena

2nd year costume apprentice

GO BEYOND the stage

Go beyond the stage with a variety of community engagement and adult education opportunities allowing Arizona Opera to add additional value for our community, whether you are new to opera or a lifelong fan.

LOUD!

LOUD! (Living Opera, Understanding Diversity) is designed to connect communities through discussions and performances with a particular focus on the BIPOC community, showcasing arts and culture with sometimes-surprising connections to the world of opera.

Pre- Show Talks

Join us one hour prior to the performance for a free and informative discussion providing insight into the opera.

Post-Show Talkbacks

Immediately following The Barber of Seville and Romeo & Juliette Sunday matinee performances, stay and enjoy brief and casual Q&A sessions with members of the cast.

Arizona Opera Film Festival: Opera on the Reel

Kick back and relax this summer with your family and friends as we present operas on the big screen!

Arizona Opera Book Club

Opera is all about telling compelling stories through music, and most of the stories you see on stage are inspired by great literary works, historical events, and legendary people. Whether you are a regular or first-time attendee, join us for this season’s Book Club!

Carmen: The Graphic Novel

Carmen: The Graphic Novel is the passion project of author, tenor, and director Alek Shrader. For his first graphic novel, Shrader collaborated with The New York Times bestselling illustrator P. Craig Russell who provided the layouts, which are finished, illustrated, and colored by Aneke and lettered by Hassan Otsmana-Elhaou. Grab your copy at azopera.org!

Photo: Sara Sturges

Photo: Cassie Hollerbach

PHOENIX ONLY: Coffee @ Kerr

Gain an inside look at our productions with a lecture designed to enhance your understanding of the music, themes, and history behind opera, followed by an exclusive performance.

Opera for Lunch

Join us for a lunchtime recital each month featuring artists from the Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio. Pre-order lunch to be enjoyed during the performance.

TUCSON ONLY: Opera Guild of Southern Arizona Previews

The Opera Guild of Southern Arizona presents free previews to all Arizona Opera performances. These previews include discussions of the operas and arias performed by University of Arizona opera students. Bring your own lunch; dessert and coffee will be provided.

For more information, please visit azopera.org or contact our Education and Community Engagement Department at education@azopera.org.

Photo: Ellen Hinkle

Arizona Opera relies on the generosity of patrons like you who give above and beyond the price of their tickets to ensure that the beauty and power of the human voice can be heard by as many Arizonans as possible.

Your tax-deductible donation of any size also helps Arizona Opera expand its impact beyond the stage through our NextGen Initiative – training the next generation of opera artists and technicians, and bringing live opera into over 170 Arizona classrooms, reaching over 50,000 students each year.

donor BENEFITS

Annual Crescendo Cocktail Party Complimentary Theater Parking Backstage Tour Invitations

Annual Bravo Dinner

Valet Parking Access

For more information on ways to enhance your opera experience, please visit azopera.org/support/individual-giving or contact our Development Department at development@azopera.org.

Photo: Tim Trumble Photography

Play a role at Arizona Opera with no audition necessary! Consider a membership in one of our three statewide Arizona Opera Leagues. League members participate in a wide variety of fundraising activities throughout the season, sharing their passion and support for Arizona Opera with their friends, family, and communities.

Valley Friends of Arizona Opera

Founded in 2011, Valley Friends of Arizona Opera is an exciting group of opera lovers who love to socialize with one another and perform volunteer work for Arizona Opera. Membership to the league offers unique access to league parties, Arizona Opera events, and fundraising socials. For more information, please visit azopera.org/valleyfriends or email development@azopera.org.

Arizona Opera League of Tucson

Founded in 1973, the Arizona Opera League of Tucson is Arizona Opera’s original volunteer and support organization. Formed by six Tucson business women known as the “Opera Dames,” they ultimately reinvented themselves as the Arizona Opera League of Tucson. For more information, please visit azopera.org/tucsonleague or email development@azopera.org.

Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera

The Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera are looking for like-minded lovers of opera who enjoy the company of friends, artists, and Arizona Opera staff for exclusive events of music and enjoyment. For more information, please visit azopera.org/prescottfriends or email development@azopera.org.