Arizona Opera Book Club
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Just a quick note: joining the email list is like subscribing to the Arizona Opera Book Club newsletter. It keeps you informed, but it doesn't reserve your seat at a meeting.
2026/27 Season Book Selections:
Summer Book Club
A History of Opera by Carolyn Abbate and Roger Parker
Phoenix: August 18 | Arizona Opera Center
Scalia/Ginsburg: An Opera by Derrick Wang
Anxious People by Fredrik Backman
Phoenix: September 15 | Arizona Opera Center
Tucson: October 2 | Antigone Books
El Gato con Botas
Puss in Boots by Charles Perrault
Phoenix: October 27 | Arizona Opera Center
Tucson: November 13 | Antigone Books
The Pirates of Penzance
The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde
Phoenix: January 19 | Arizona Opera Center
Tucson: February 5 | Antigone Books
La Traviata
The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton
Phoenix: February 23 | Arizona Opera Center
Tucson: March 12 | Antigone Books
Join the Conversation Between Meetings!
New this season, we're creating a space for our Book Club community to connect between meetings. Share a favorite quote, post a question, tell us what you thought of a character, or simply see what other readers are saying.
There's no pressure to post, you're welcome to join the conversation whenever inspiration strikes. We hope this becomes a place where opera lovers and bookworms can connect, discover new perspectives, and enjoy the journey together.
Tucson Book Club Members
We're thrilled to partner with Antigone Books as the host of our Tucson Book Club meetings this season! If you're joining us in Tucson, we encourage you to support this wonderful local independent bookstore by purchasing your Book Club selections there whenever you can.
Antigone Books keeps Anxious People in stock for our October discussion, and they're happy to special order the rest of the season's selections. To ensure your book arrives in time for each meeting, we recommend placing special orders at least two weeks in advance.
Thank you for supporting a local business that helps make our Tucson Book Club community possible!
Need another page-turner?
Explore these recommendations from staff and Book Club members.
Scalia/Ginsburg: An Opera by Derrick Wang
- Paired Reading: Scalia Speaks by Antonin Scalia & My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg
- Listening to the Law by Amy Coney Barrett
- Sisters in Law by Linda Hirshman
- Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
El Gato con Botas
- The List of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
- Starter Villain by John Scalzi
The Pirates of Penzance
- The Princess Bride by William Goldman
- A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
- Gilbert & Sullivan Biographies
La traviata
- The Lady of the Camellias by Alexandre Dumas fils
- Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Arizona Opera’s NextGen programs are made possible, in part, thanks to generous support from: Ted Stephan Teaching Artist Endowment Fund, Drs. Herschel and Jill* Rosenzweig, Jeannette Segel, Dr. Rex & Arlyn* Brewster, SRP, Invest in Kids Charitable Gift Fund, The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation, APS, A gift in memory of Elkanah Andrew Babcock V, Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust, The Arizona Republic, Marlu Allan & Scott Stallard*, Nancy Bennett, Migs Woodside, City of Peoria, Desert Diamond Casino, and a consortium of individual donors.
This program is made possible, fully or in part, by a grant from Scottsdale Arts with funding provided by the City of Scottsdale.
Upcoming Book Club Events
Phoenix
Begin the season with a shared foundation in the art form we love. A History of Opera explores opera's origins, evolution, and lasting impact, providing valuable context for the stories and music featured throughout Arizona Opera's 2026/27 Season.
Fredrik Backman's Anxious People explores unlikely friendships, understanding across differences, and the connections that bring people together. Like Scalia/Ginsburg, it offers a thoughtful look at how relationships can thrive despite opposing viewpoints.
Revisit the classic tale of Puss in Boots, a story filled with clever tricks, adventure, and imagination. This beloved fairy tale provides a fun introduction to the characters and spirit of El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots).
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is a witty comedy of mistaken identities and social satire. Its playful humor and delightfully absurd situations make it a perfect companion to The Pirates of Penzance.
Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence explores love, reputation, and the expectations of society. These timeless themes closely mirror the emotional conflicts at the heart of La Traviata.
Tucson
Fredrik Backman's Anxious People explores unlikely friendships, understanding across differences, and the connections that bring people together. Like Scalia/Ginsburg, it offers a thoughtful look at how relationships can thrive despite opposing viewpoints.
Revisit the classic tale of Puss in Boots, a story filled with clever tricks, adventure, and imagination. This beloved fairy tale provides a fun introduction to the characters and spirit of El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots).
Oscar Wilde's The Importance of Being Earnest is a witty comedy of mistaken identities and social satire. Its playful humor and delightfully absurd situations make it a perfect companion to The Pirates of Penzance.
Edith Wharton's The Age of Innocence explores love, reputation, and the expectations of society. These timeless themes closely mirror the emotional conflicts at the heart of La Traviata.