About Arizona Opera

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.

Arizona Opera produces fully-staged operas, concerts, and collaborative programs throughout the state of Arizona each year, and is among only a handful of companies in the U.S. that regularly performs in more than one city. Having just celebrated its 50th Anniversary Season, Arizona Opera's mission is to elevate the transformative power of storytelling through music, cultivating community and strengthening a state and people as adventurous and diverse as the place they call home. Since its inaugural year in 1971, Arizona Opera has produced more than 200 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 contemporary American operas.

Our Mission

Arizona Opera connects and inspires communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice, creating inclusive, culturally relevant, and impactful experiences, while ensuring the financial stability of opera in our state.

Our Vision

A statewide cultural community, connected through resonant experiences that create a sense of inspiration and belonging for all Arizonans.

Our Values

These core values guide Arizona Opera in realizing our Mission and Vision:

Civic Value: Building meaningful connections and positive impact within the community we serve through the transformative blend of storytelling, music, and the human voice.

Inclusivity and Belonging: Embracing and celebrating the diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives that shape our community, we create programs and cultivate an environment that ensure that every individual feels valued and connected.

Innovation and Tradition: Combining creativity and fresh ideas to evolve opera, while honoring its cherished legacy.

Excellence: Striving for the highest level of quality in all that we do, both on and off the stage.

Constructive Collaboration: Fostering a respectful, professional atmosphere where everyone is valued. We work together with optimism and harmony, enhance our creativity and outcomes.

Learning and Engagement: Going beyond the stage, through educational programs and community initiatives, we foster a reciprocal journey of discovery for everyone involved.

Sustainability: Ensuring the long-term viability of the organization by making strategic decisions that balance programmatic impact with financial and environmental responsibility.