I have attended many of Phoenix Opera's performances and have been overwhelmed by the caliber of their productions. It is wonderful to have a local opera company with such impressive talent. From the sets to the singers, it is a joy to attend their stunning performances. Kudos to Phoenix Opera for bringing exceptional quality to Arizona.
I have been an Opera lover since I first heard Opera as a child in NYC. Every Saturday I listened to the Metropolitan Opera on the radio. As a teen ager , I attended the Metropolitan Opera at the old opera house in NYC. I heard World Class singers.
As an adult, I have attended Operas in many cities in the USA including both Opera companies in Phoenix.
The Phoenix Metropolitan Opera does most outstanding productions. The casts are not only outstanding singers but also outstanding actors. It is the TRADITIONAL Opera that I have always loved and been most comfortable. They don't shoot Carmen.
This fantastic opera company produces world-class operas. I especially appreciate the fact they find and use local as well as international talent.
I sang in the chorus of the Phoenix Opera for 3 operas. The rehearsals were well-run; the singers and staff treated with the utmost kindness and respect. When it was time for costume fittings and final rehearsal, at a time when tensions are high and tempers flare, EVERYONE continued to be professional, kind and courteous. It was a joy and a privilege to be affiliated with the Phoenix Opera.
Phoenix Opera is the new opera company based in Phoenix, Arizona. The company is currently in its fourth season and presents two productions each season with two performances of each production. The operas presented to date have been LA BOHEME, TOSCA, AIDA, CARMEN, MADAMA BUTTERFLY and DIE ZAUBERFLOTE [THE MAGIC FLUTE]. LA TRAVIATA will be presented on March 4th and 6th, 2011. All the operas have had international casts, beautiful sets and costumes, fabulous stage direction and extremely professional singing and acting from all members of the casts. We are proud to have Phoenix Opera in Arizona, which can hold its own with any opera company in the world!
We are lucky to have the Phoenix Opera here. The operas are beautifully staged and the music wonderful. The Phoenix Opera is far more than its performances. There are concerts all over the Valley that are fairly priced so that anyone wanting to get to know us may attend. Our creative
directors, Gail Dubenbaum and John Massaro are very accessible to all.
So are the board members and every volunteer and the artists when they are in town. It is hard to be a start up arts organization and this one is worth keeping.
We are new to the opera experience, and have attended the last three performances of the Phoenix opera during the last two years. We have been thoroughly entertained by the whole experience. We are amazed by the quality of the talent, costuming, sets, orchestra and everything else that goes into the production. It makes for such a nice evening out.
Every major community needs arts like this opera company and we are pleased to see our donations are being put to good use.
Our very first attendance to any opera was to see Madame Butterfly, performed by the Phoenix Opera. It was an outstanding performance by world-class accomplished artists. The chorus, the set, the orchestra...everything about it drew us into a different world, and we loved it.
What we didn't expect, to great delight upon discovering it, was the simultaneous translation from Italian to English on a first-class digital screen posed above the stage. That feature eliminates the frustration of hearing spectacular music, but not understanding the story line.
Phoenix Opera performances have been some of the finest I have ever attended -- and I have seen many throughout the United States. It is comforting to know that they adhere to the original intent of the composer. I never have to wonder what "interpretation" will greet me in the way of staging: no shock value here. Just a devotion to the music. The singers are always top-flight and the sets are beautiful. The Orpheum Theater in downtown Phoenix is the perfect spot for their performances as well -- it, too, adds to the ambience of the entire evening. My only complaint is that Phoenix Opera should have more productions every year. The two they do create annually are well worth the ticket price!