Arizona Opera 2017-18 Season brochure

SEE HE AR FEEL SAVOR 17 18

PRESENTED BY

“Wow, did Arizona Opera knock this one out of the park.”

– Arizona Daily Star, Nov 2016

OPERA, LIKE ALL OF LIFE’S GREAT PLEASURES, IGNITES THE SENSES. Each performance is like a glass of fine wine, to be savored and enjoyed for all its complexity. Each story is a time with old friends.

Each song, a journey to a far-away destination. Each occasion, an exploration of the beauty of the human voice.

■ This season, Arizona

Opera presents a variety of bold and unique works to satisfy your cravings for excitement. Every performance is a different flavor: of history, style, and emotion. Witness politics and intrigue when the beautiful

CANDIDE

TOSCA

finds sweet revenge—only to taste bitter betrayal.

brings a lighthearted spirit that underscores its deeper

philosophical underpinnings. A frothy, bubbly tickles and delights with laughter.

BARBER OF SEVILLE

DAS RHEINGOLD electrifies with the

Photo: Cory Weaver | Minnesota Opera

awe-inspiring power of the gods. And a crazy night of swash-buckling heroes will sweep you off your feet as

HERCULES VS VAMPIRES

surrounds you in brilliant, pop-culture Technicolor.

■

This year, set

aside five nights for yourself—to revel in the sights, sounds, and

LIVE emotions of the opera.

■ RESERVE YOUR SEASON TICKETS TODAY!

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2017 2018

NOVEMBER 11 AT 7:30 PM NOVEMBER 12 AT 2:00 PM TUCSON MUSIC HALL NOVEMBER 17 & 18 AT 7:30 PM NOVEMBER 19 AT 2:00 PM SYMPHONY HALL

TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini

BEAUTY. DESIRE. BETRAYAL. The beautiful and fiery Italian diva Floria Tosca is passionately in love with the artist Mario Cavaradossi—dreaming of their life together. But soon, she is caught in the political intrigues of Rome and a sinister web spun by Baron Scarpia, the Chief of Police. Tosca is desperately looking for a way out, when Scarpia offers a solution: submit to him, and he will let the couple leave the city unharmed. But, of course, all is not what it seems in Puccini’s high-stakes drama—and Tosca is forced to take matters into her own hands.

“Thomson is riveting to watch, and truly fearsome. Her ‘Vissi d’arte’ aria alone was worth the price of admission.”

– Arts Atlanta

TOSCA

CAVARADOSSI

SCARPIA

STAGE DIRECTOR

Kara Shay Thomson

Gordon Hawkins

Rafael Davila

Tara Faircloth

If you like bold Italian red wines, you’ll love Tosca.

RECOMMENDED WINE PAIRING:

Tenuta San Guido Guidalberto 2014

www.azopera.org

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TOSCA

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JANUARY 27 AT 7:30 PM JANUARY 28 AT 2:00 PM TUCSON MUSIC HALL FEBRUARY 2 & 3 AT 7:30 PM FEBRUARY 4 AT 2:00 PM SYMPHONY HALL

2017 2018

This production of Candide is generously sponsored by

Jeannette J. Segel

CANDIDE by Leonard Bernstein

In celebration of the Bernstein Centennial

WIT. STRUGGLE. WISDOM. Fast-paced, funny, and philosophical, Arizona Opera joins nationwide celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Leonard Bernstein’s birth with the company premiere of Candide. Based on the story by Voltaire, when the young man, Candide, sets off to explore the world after the loss of his fiancée, he and his companions are beset by an endless series of comedic disasters. With highlights such as “Glitter and Be Gay” and “Make Our Garden Grow”, Candide provides audiences with the hope that “the best of all possible worlds” lies within their grasp.

American Masters

Symposium JANUARY 2018

Celebrate the centennial of American Master, Leonard Bernstein, by attending Arizona Opera’s American Masters Symposium.

Throughout this symposium, we will examine Bernstein’s legacy and explore how he forever changed the landscape of American classical music.

Candide is part of the 2018 Tucson Desert Song Festival

CANDIDE

Andrew Stenson

CUNEGONDE

Katrina Galka

CONDUCTOR

Joseph Colaneri

If you like light American wines from the Sonoma Coast, you’ll love Candide.

RECOMMENDED WINE PAIRING:

www.azopera.org

Joseph Phelps 2014 Pinot Noir Freestone Vineyard

2017 2018

MARCH 3 AT 7:30 PM MARCH 4 AT 2:00 PM TUCSON MUSIC HALL MARCH 9 & 10 AT 7:30 PM MARCH 11 AT 2:00 PM SYMPHONY HALL

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

by Gioachino Rossini

LONGING. MISCHIEF. DELIGHT. “That Kang was going to be a powerful contender was obvious from the first notes of Figaro’s ‘Largo al factotum.’”

– Star-Telegram, Fort Worth

Gioachino Rossini’s greatest masterpiece, The Barber of Seville, is brought to vivid life at Arizona Opera. When the handsome Count Almaviva falls in love with the beautiful Rosina, he solicits Figaro, the town’s crafty barber, to help win her favor and make a fool of her ridiculous guardian, Dr. Bartolo. Audiences will delight in this plot, full of twists and turns, mistaken identities, and the triumph of young love, all wrapped up in Rossini’s unmistakably masterful music.

FIGARO

ROSINA

Joo Won Kang

Stephanie Luricella

COUNT ALMAVIVA

DR. BARTOLO

Taylor Stayton

Calvin Griffin

If you like delightful Spanish wines, you’ll love The Barber of Seville.

RECOMMENDED WINE PAIRING:

La Rioja Alta 2007 Gran Reserva 904

www.azopera.org

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Das Rheingold

APRIL 6 & 7 AT 7:30 PM APRIL 8 AT 2:00 PM SYMPHONY HALL APRIL 14 AT 7:30 PM APRIL 15 AT 2:00 PM TUCSON MUSIC HALL

2017 2018

DAS RHEINGOLD

by Richard Wagner

POWER. CURSE. DESTINY.

Photo: Cory Weaver | Minnesota Opera

Twenty years ago, Arizona Opera riveted our state with its acclaimed production of Wagner’s epic Ring Cycle. In celebration of this special anniversary, we conclude our 2017/18 Season with the first chapter of this masterwork inspired by Norse mythology, Das Rheingold. When the dwarf Alberich steals the magical gold of the Rhinemaidens, he unleashes a power struggle with Wotan, ruler of the gods, that will shake the very foundations of the world. Driven by dark, powerful melodies and motifs, Das Rheingold brings the gods to life in this electrifying production, featuring the Arizona Opera Orchestra on stage, with stunning set design and concept created by Brian Staufenbiel and scenic projections by David Murakami.

“The range of emotions Mr. Delavan can communicate with his half-divine, half-human voice appears limitless.”

– Wall Street Journal

WOTAN

Mark Delavan

LOGE

Rodell Rosel

ALBERICH

Richard Paul Fink

STAGE DIRECTOR

Brian Staufenbiel

If you like dry, innovative wines from Germany, you’ll love Das Rheingold.

RECOMMENDED WINE PAIRING:

www.azopera.org

2015 Domdechant Werner Hochheimer Riesling

2017 2018

NEW TUCSON VENUE! OCTOBER 15 AT 2:00 PM FOX THEATRE OCTOBER 21 AT 7:30 PM OCTOBER 22 AT 2:00 PM SYMPHONY HALL

Technicolor Opera Slays Bloodsuckers with Song!

SPECIAL ENGAGEMENT Single Tickets:

$25-$45 Bring a Friend!

HERCULES vs VAMPIRES Patrick Morganelli, Composer Mario Bava, Filmmaker

Hold on tight for an out of this world event! Hercules vs Vampires combines operatic singing and 1960s pop culture, synchronizing live music with the 1961 cult classic film, Hercules in the Haunted World. Watch as the original film, starring bodybuilder Reg Park and horror legend Christopher Lee, is projected above a live orchestra and singers performing the music to a new, original score. You’ll thrill as the mighty hero Hercules journeys through the underworld, battling fiendish monsters to rescue his beloved! Actionpacked, outlandish, and fun for the whole family, Hercules vs Vampires offers a fresh take on this gorgeously campy Technicolor world.

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This year’s calendar is bursting with a whole host of fun-filled, exciting events that celebrate the stories, music, and creators of the operas you see on stage. Meet with other like-minded friends, savor a glass of wine, and enjoy these special events throughout the season.

BOOK CLUB

BEHIND THE SCENES AT OPÉRATIF

EACH PERFORMANCE MONTH

EACH PERFORMANCE MONTH

Arizona Opera’s Book Club is a great way to share the love of literature and opera, meet fellow audience members to discuss, learn, and connect. Membership for the 2017/18 season is easy—just visit azopera.org to sign up! (Note: Some Book Club events may require a fee.)

Enjoy a glass of wine and discuss details of our main stage operas with President and General Director Joseph Specter. Guests are then invited behind the scenes to view a portion of each production’s final rehearsal at the Arizona Opera Center.

OPERA & GELATO FILM FEST SUMMER 2017

Escape the heat with us this summer at the Arizona Opera Center. Kick back and relax with a refreshing gelato, a glass of wine, and your family and friends as we present the great operas from Milan’s famed Teatro alla Scala on our big screen.

OPERA-CON 2017

TUCSON DESERT SONG FESTIVAL JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018

Take part in a world-class celebration of music and song as unique as Tucson itself.

From beloved standards to new works, the Tucson Desert Song Festival has something for music enthusiasts of all backgrounds.

As part of this year’s festival, Arizona Opera will once again host two recitals featuring renowned guest artists from the world of opera. Stay tuned for more details!

OCTOBER 2017

The United States is currently in an operatic renaissance, with more new works premiering each year. Join us for a series of sitespecific recitals, lectures, films, and musical happenings that explore different ways of engaging with opera—the ultimate artform.

Visit www.azopera.org/learn-and-connect for a complete schedule of events.

S AVE With so many moments of passion and spectacle that await you at the opera, why limit yourself to just one performance? When you subscribe to a Full, 4 Opera or Mini Season, you won’t just save money, you’ll get the full menu of emotional, historical, and operatic styles that this specially curated group of stories has to offer.

Are you under 40?

It’s time for you to go BOLD. For only $100 get a BOLD Card worth six tickets to use however you prefer.

That’s less than $17 per ticket to see any opera at any time with any one of your friends. ID required. Find out more at azopera.org/boldcard

3 Easy Payments Too much to commit? You can reserve the best seats now and pay in 3 easy installments. Ask the box office for details!

www.azopera.org PHX 602-266-7464 TUC 520-293-4336

Save up to

25% with a

FULL

season package!

In addition to saving money, when you subscribe to the FULL season, you receive these benefits: • Top Priority & Service • Flexibility to Exchange Performances • Exclusive Pre-Sales and Discounts • Guaranteed Best Seats • Access to Pre-paid Garage Parking

FULL SEASON

Includes 4 Main Stage Shows (Tosca, Candide, The Barber of Seville & Das Rheingold) PLUS Hercules vs Vampires

4 OPERA SEASON

Includes Tosca, Candide, The Barber of Seville & Das Rheingold

3 OPERA MINI SEASON

Create your own series, mix & match 3 shows of your choice! (Pricing based on 3 Main Stage performances)

PHOENIX FULL SEASON

4 Main Stage + Hercules vs Vampires

Yellow Green

Blue

Senior/ Student

Blue

Senior/ Student

Purple Purple Orange

Pink

$529 $385 $331 $319 $227 $219 $177 $125 BALCONY

4 OPERA

Main Stage only

$484 $340 $296 $284 $192 $184 $152 $100

3 OPERA MINI

$366 $300 $231

Choose 3 Operas

SYMPHONY HALL 75 N. 2ND ST., PHOENIX

NA

$177

NA

$123 $75

Opening Nights Oct 21*, Nov 17, Feb 2, Mar 9, Apr 6

Photo: Cory Weaver | Minnesota Opera Design:

www.causedesign.com Illustrations: Dan Stiles

Saturday Nights Oct 21*, Nov 18, Feb 3, Mar 10, Apr 7

S TAGE

Sunday Matinees Oct 22*, Nov 19, Feb 4, Mar 11, Apr 8

TUCSON FULL SEASON

4 Main Stage + Hercules vs Vampires

Yellow Green

Blue

Senior/ Student

Purple Purple Orange

Pink

$449 $349 $271 $219 $199 $149 $113

4 OPERA

$404 $304 $236 $184 $164 $124 $88

3 OPERA MINI

$324 $270 $231 $177 NA $108 $66

Main Stage only

Choose 3 Operas

TUCSON MUSIC HALL* 260 S. CHURCH, TUCSON

B AL C O N Y

Saturday Nights Oct 15*, Nov 11, Jan 27, Mar 3, Apr 14 Sunday Matinees Oct 15*, Nov 12, Jan 28, Mar 4, Apr 15 *Special Engagement Hercules vs Vampires — Please check your calendar!

This may be a different performance date than your Main Stage performance series.

Tucson Oct 15 at 2 pm at Fox Theatre 17 W Congress St, Tucson, AZ 85701 Phoenix Oct 21 at 7:30 pm and Oct 22 at 2 pm in Symphony Hall, 75 N. 2nd St

S TAGE

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Photo: Tim Trumble

1636 N. Central Ave., Phoenix AZ 85004

Arizona Opera’s Rusalka, Nov 2016 Of f i ci a l P i a n o

Of f i ci a l H o t e l

Of f i ci a l Ai r l i n e

2017/2018 Season presented by

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