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Arizona Opera, originally the Tucson Opera Company, was founded in 1971 by a dedicated group of opera enthusiasts. Its inaugural season featured two performances of Rossini’s The Barber of Seville in Tucson and by the 1976 – 1977 season Arizona Opera was performing complete seasons in both Tucson and Phoenix. In addition to maintaining fully-staffed offices in both cities, Arizona Opera now offers in-school touring productions and numerous outreach events as well as produces five operas each year in both communities. Proud of its dual city presence, Arizona Opera is one of the few companies in the United States to serve multiple cities.
 
Since its inaugural year Arizona Opera has produced over 170 fully-stage operas and concerts. The company’s artistic history is rich with a blend of opera’s traditional repertoire featuring baroque, bel canto, and verismo works, turn-of-the-century masterpieces, operettas, and American operas. Arizona Opera has also presented Wagner’s complete Ring Cycle twice, a feat that has only been accomplished in North America by four other companies.

On stage, Arizona Opera presents both artists of international stature and emerging talent, and each season balances debut artists and the return of favorite performers. Arizona’s musical talent is showcased in its acclaimed orchestra and chorus. The Arizona Opera Orchestra, established in 2000, consists of members of symphony orchestras from Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson, as well as faculty from local universities, and the chorus is comprised of Phoenix and Tucson community members and students from local universities.

Throughout its history, Arizona Opera has been committed to producing operas of the highest quality, attracting the finest world talent and showcasing local artists. We are grateful to you for supporting us in these endeavors. We hope you enjoy this season and our seasons to come!