Arizona Opera is turning up the volume for the 2026–2027 season with a lineup that blends clever modern storytelling, beloved classics and family-friendly fun, plus a renewed push to develop the next generation of opera stars.
The newly announced season brings four fully staged productions to Phoenix and Tucson, moving from a witty opera about two Supreme Court icons to one of Verdi’s most famously heartbreaking love stories. Alongside the mainstage productions, Arizona Opera is expanding artist training, launching a new performance series and restoring one of its most important development programs.
“This season reflects everything Arizona Opera stands for right now — artistic excellence, collaboration, accessibility, and investment in the future of opera and our community,” Arizona Opera General Director Brian DeMaris says. “We’re telling great stories, connecting our community, welcoming new audiences and recommitting to the artists and programs that make this company a creative home.”
The season opens with Scalia/Ginsburg, Derrick Wang’s smart and surprisingly moving operatic comedy inspired by the real-life friendship between Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg. The production arrives September 26 and 27, 2026 at Phoenix’s Herberger Theater Center before heading to Tucson’s Leo Rich Theater on October 3 and 4, 2026. Expect quick wit, legal references and a reminder that respectful disagreement can still make beautiful music.
Next comes a playful pick for families. El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots), the Spanish-language one-act opera by Xavier Montsalvatge, brings the classic fairy tale to life with energetic music and vibrant Spanish rhythms. Performed by Arizona Opera’s Marion Roose Pullin Studio Artists, the hour-long production runs November 7 and 8, 2026 in Phoenix at The Roma and Raymond Wittcoff Black Box Theater and November 14 and 15, 2026 in Tucson at the Leo Rich Theater.
Winter turns up the comic chaos with The Pirates of Penzance, Gilbert and Sullivan’s endlessly charming operetta filled with romance, satire and the famously fast-talking “I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” Tender-hearted pirates, delightfully absurd logic and irresistible wordplay make this a crowd favorite every time. Performances take place January 30 and 31, 2027 at Symphony Hall in Phoenix and February 6 and 7, 2027 at The Linda Ronstadt Music Hall in Tucson.
Then comes the emotional powerhouse. La Traviata, Giuseppe Verdi’s legendary tale of love, sacrifice and society’s unforgiving rules, closes the season March 6 and 7, 2027 in Phoenix and March 13 and 14, 2027 in Tucson. With sweeping melodies and operatic heartbreak at full throttle, it remains one of the most beloved works in the entire repertoire.
Behind the curtain, Arizona Opera is making some big moves as well. The Marion Roose Pullin Studio returns to a full-season program after operating at half capacity the past two years. The expansion restores a key training pipeline that gives emerging singers a year of performance opportunities, coaching, language study and professional development.
The company is also launching a new Studio Series featuring intimate performances designed to spotlight rising artists. The New Works Festival returns in April 2027 with performances in Phoenix and Tucson, alongside the annual Arizona Opera Gala and continued recital collaborations with the Tucson Desert Song Festival.
In other words, get ready for a season that honors opera’s grand traditions while keeping the spotlight firmly on the future.
Insider Takeaways
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Arizona Opera’s 2026–2027 season features four fully staged productions in Phoenix and Tucson.
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The lineup ranges from the witty modern opera Scalia/Ginsburg to Verdi’s iconic La Traviata.
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Family audiences can enjoy the Spanish-language fairy tale opera El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots).
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The Marion Roose Pullin Studio returns to a full-season program supporting emerging opera talent.
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A new Studio Series and the return of the New Works Festival will spotlight rising artists and original works.
For more information on Arizona Opera, visit azopera.org.
