Arizona Opera
This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (April 2013) |
Address | Phoenix, Arizona US |
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Coordinates | 33°28′02″N 112°04′27″W / 33.4673202°N 112.0743041°W |
Website | |
azopera |
Arizona Opera is an opera company which operates in both Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona.
History
Arizona Opera was established in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, under founding general director James P. Sullivan, and presented its first production, of
The appointment of Glynn Ross as general director in 1983 initiated a period of growth during which the company expanded its season from three to five productions. In 1996 and 1998 the company gained notice by staging Wagner's Ring Cycle as a summer festival in Flagstaff, Arizona. Ross retired in 1998 and was succeeded by David Speers, who increased spending on rehearsals, chorus, and orchestra in an effort to improve the quality of the company's productions. Under Speers' leadership subscriptions and single-ticket sales increased. In addition to the company's regular productions, Speers brought singers Samuel Ramey, Kiri Te Kanawa, Denyce Graves, and Jerry Hadley to Arizona for recital performances.
During the 2000–2001 season, the company appointed its first principal conductor, Cal Stewart Kellogg. Kellogg remained in that position through 2004, and is now director of the Symphony of the Southwest.
David Speers left the company in 2003 and was succeeded by Joel Revzen, a
In February–May 2017 Arizona Opera presented the world premiere of
In late 2017, Arizona Opera announced a shift from their traditional season model. While retaining five productions per opera season, the fall and spring performances were split into two distinct performance series.[16]
Arizona Opera offers five productions with five performances each per season. The McDougall Arizona Opera RED Series is performed in the fall at the Herberger Theater Center (802 seats) in Phoenix and The Temple of Music and Art in Tucson (627 seats).[17] The spring Main Stage Series is presented at Phoenix Symphony Hall (2,312 seats) and the Tucson Convention Center Music Hall (2,289 seats).
Labor relations
The Arizona Opera Chorus is composed of professional singers from both Phoenix and Tucson. Choristers have been affiliated with the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) since 1995. Union representation has resulted in improvements in chorus compensation and working conditions, and a concomitant improvement in the quality of new chorister candidates.
The Arizona Opera Orchestra is composed of music professionals from three major cities in Arizona — Phoenix, Tucson, and Flagstaff — and is affiliated with the
General directors
- James P. Sullivan (1971–1981)[18]
- Richard J Woitach (1981–1983)
- Glynn Ross (1983–1998)
- David Speers (1998–2003)
- Joel Revzen (2003–2009)
- Scott Altman (2009–2013)[19]
- Ryan Taylor (2013–2016)
- Joseph Specter (2016–present)
References
- ^ "About the Arizona Opera | Arizona Opera". www.azopera.org. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- ^ "MyCAST.is". mycast.is. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- ^ "Foundation Center Form 990 (2016)" (PDF). Foundation Center. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
- ^ "AZO Cast Members & Creatives | Arizona Opera". www.azopera.org. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- Arizona Republic. February 20, 2017.
- ^ Salazar, David. "A Zane Grey Opera – Exploring the Creation & Production of Arizona Opera’s World Premiere of Riders of the Purple Sage". OperaWire. February 23, 2017.
- ^ Burch, Cathalena E. "Arizona Opera set to make history with 'Riders'". Arizona Daily Star. February 21, 2017.
- ^ "Riders of the Purple Sage" Archived 2020-09-23 at the Wayback Machine. North American Works Directory. Opera America. Retrieved August 13, 2019.
- ^ Simeonov, Jenna. "New Operas: Craig Bohmler's Riders of the Purple Sage". Schmopera. August 25, 2016.
- Arizona PBS. September 13, 2017.
- WFMT Radio Network. 2017.
- ^ "AZ Opera's Riders of the Purple Sage Set for Nationwide Broadcast This Fall". Broadway World. November 25, 2017.
- ^ Burch, Cathalena E. "AZ Opera's 'Riders' getting national audience". Arizona Daily Star. September 13, 2017.
- ^ "Riders of the Purple Sage". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. July 22, 2018.
- ^ "Program: 3. 11. 2018". Vlata. Retrieved August 14, 2019.
- ^ "Arizona Opera Announces New Vanguard Season Model". Nov 14, 2017. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- ^ "Arizona Opera, Childsplay to become resident companies at Herberger Theater Center". azcentral. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- ^ "Arizona Opera, Tucson AZ – Company Profile | BizStanding". bizstanding.com. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.
- ^ "Scott Altman at Arizona Opera, Tucson, AZ – Bizstanding Business Directory". bizstanding.com. Retrieved Jul 15, 2019.