Throughout their history, Arizona Opera has worked to get people of different ages and tastes interested in operatic performance. During the 2026-2027 season, they will be producing operas of different lengths and subject matter to appeal to a range of audiences.
They are kicking off their 55th season with the one-act comic opera “Scalia/Ginsburg.” It opened Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 26 and 27, in Phoenix, and will come to Tucson Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 3 and 4.
The opera, which was written by composer, writer and music and law consultant Derrick Wang, explores the relationship between Supreme Court justices Antonin Scalia and Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Although the two held very different viewpoints, Scalia and Ginsburg shared a love of opera, fine dining and travel. The show highlights how even those who disagree can find common ground and have civilized dialogue with each other.
“It’s a delightful opera that celebrates their friendship as well as their differences but also how they came together in serving our country,” said Arizona Opera President and General Director Brian DeMaris. “The piece is a comedy. It’s always been timely, but it’s not a political statement. It’s more of a human statement. It really celebrates their friendship, their passion for opera and their passion for the law.”
The show incorporates text from and references to landmark Supreme Court decisions in the music.
“Information is baked into that piece. It’s very self-referential, the way it refers to opera, the Supreme Court and the precedent of law, as well as citing former operas and composers along the way. It’s really entertaining and educational at the same time,” DeMaris said.
While he was reading dissents from Scalia as a first-year law student, Wang could hear the music in them. This inspired him to want to write a rage aria, a style of opera popular in Italy in the 18th century, about the Constitution.
The show is one of the most frequently produced contemporary American operas. It was presented to the Supreme Court, before Scalia and Ginsburg, in 2013.
During the Tucson run, Arizona Opera will host preshow talks with DeMaris before and postshow talks with DeMaris and cast and crew members right after each performance.
The opera will be performed in English with a full orchestra. It will be presented with both English and Spanish subtitles.
The production stars Rachel Policar as Ginsburg, Ben Werley as Scalia and Jesús Vicente Murillo as the show’s Commentor. All three are making their Arizona Opera debut.
Policar, who is an ASU graduate, has done the show five times with different companies.
DeMaris is conducting the orchestra for “Scalia/Ginsburg.”
DeMaris previously conducted the opera in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, his hometown, and for Anchorage Opera. The productions both starred Policar and Murillo.
Arizona Opera was founded in Tucson in 1971. By the 1976-77 season, they had expanded to Tucson and Phoenix. Over their history, they have put on over 200 operas and concerts.
DeMaris came on as president and general director in 2025.
DeMaris said this season, they hope to expand their offerings, have greater presence in Phoenix and Tucson and present operas that are accessible and culturally relevant to audience members of different backgrounds and ages.
“The challenge for opera is people can perceive opera to be grand and big…While a lot of the greatest operas are grand and big, opera can be small, fun and intimate. Half of our season is focusing on small, up-close, intimate repertoire, lesser-known works and contemporary works, while we’re still retaining our commitment to the big grand operas and the classics. We have to constantly stretch so that we’re introducing new audiences to the art form and furthering the art form,” DeMaris said. “We’re all competing with cell phones and streaming, where people can access entertainment and art right in their own home. I think that makes it more important for arts organizations to create a social connection and an opportunity for communities to come together to experience art together in person.”
The company will continue their season Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 7 and 8, in Phoenix and Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 14 and 15, in Tucson with Xavier Montsalvatge’s and Néstor Luján’s one-act opera “El Gato con Botas (Puss in Boots).”
It is based off Charles Perrault’s classic tale of an inventive cat who uses his wits, along with his sword, hats and boots, to gain his master a bride and kingdom. The show will be performed in Spanish with piano accompaniment, with English and Spanish subtitles.
“We’re trying to expand opera for all ages. It’s a great story and a beautiful opera. It’s from the 1950s. It’s great for grown-ups and kids alike,” DeMaris said.
During the run of “El Gato con Botas,” the opera company, in partnership with St. Vincent de Paul, will be collecting new and gently-used shoes and new socks for those in need.
The company will present Gilbert and Sullivan’s opera “The Pirates of Penzance” Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 30 and 31, in Phoenix and Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 6 and 7, in Tucson.
The opera tells the story of protagonist Frederic, who accidentally becomes an apprentice to a group of pirates. Right when he is turning 21 and is set to leave piracy behind, he falls for Mabel, the daughter of Major-General Stanley.
The opera features iconic songs such as “I am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.” It will be performed in English with Spanish and English subtitles.
The company will produce Verde’s and Piave’s opera “La Traviata” Saturday and Sunday, March 6 and 7, in Phoenix and Saturday and Sunday, March 13 and 14, in Tucson.
The opera is set in 19th-century Paris, where audiences meet courtesan Violetta Valéry. She falls for Alfredo Germont, but she must decide between independence and love. Their relationship is further complicated by societal pressures, misinterpretations and illness.
Both “The Pirates of Penzance” and “La Traviata” will feature a full chorus and orchestra.
As part of their New Works Festival Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, Arizona Opera will spotlight two new operatic works, “Jefferson Lives!” and “The Post Office,” at their Phoenix center. Both shows will be making their Arizona premieres.
There will be pre-show and post-show talks throughout the season.
DeMaris said they often bring in guest artists to play lead roles in larger operas, but their orchestra, chorus and stage crew are made up of locals.
“A lot of our orchestra, chorus and staff come from our universities in both cities, the University of Arizona and Arizona State University…Schools play an important role in bringing young talent to Arizona. Many of those people who’ve trained here, as in every industry, will stay here,” DeMaris said.
This year, Arizona Opera has restored their Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio training program for up-and-coming professionals. Studio artists do year-long residencies, during which they perform in mainstage productions.
As part of “Scalia/Ginsburg,” studio artists served as understudies and performed at different preview events.
“El Gato con Botas” will feature all studio artists. They will also appear in the last two operas of the season.
Alumni from the studio program will also perform in the final two mainstage productions.
“That’s one of the nice things about Pullin Studio is they really grow up here into the profession. Then, they can come back later and be featured in big roles, and we celebrate their return and their success,” DeMaris said.
As part of their inaugural “Studio Series,” the opera company will highlight studio artists with individual recitals. The series runs through Tuesday, March 23, in Phoenix, and Tuesday, March 30, in Tucson.
“It’s a nice, up-close, intimate opportunity to get to know them. It’s an older apprenticeship model in the opera industry that still exists. We had over 700 applicants for the studio this year. We chose five singers, one pianist and one stage director. They’re emerging young professionals coming from all over the country to be in residence here and continue to grow in their artistry,” DeMaris said. “They’re really ambassadors in the community. We take them everywhere. We go to retirement centers. We go to the zoo. We go to the children’s museum and the art museum. These artists are really the face of our company.”
Along with putting on productions, Arizona Opera engages audiences through their book club, Coffee at Kerr lecture series and “Opera for Lunch” and “Opera Everywhere” programs.
“It’s our job to educate the community, help people to know what the operas are about and connect the artists to the community through the lectures, the book clubs, the recital series and the ‘Opera Everywhere’ that we do in Tucson, where we get the artists out into the town,” DeMaris said.
Through their education programs, they take operas to schools, offer family days and backstage tours for young people, invite students to come to final dress rehearsals and offer discounted tickets for teachers and students.
DeMaris said they reach over 30,000 students a year and tour 150 schools throughout Arizona.
“For the school program, it’s an entirely separate tour of local artists that are performing in the classrooms throughout the whole season. They do miniature, English-language versions of operas, all half an hour long. It’s an introduction to opera,” DeMaris said. “Our wig and makeup manager, Alita Lopez, who’s been with the company for over a decade, lives in Tucson. Her first introduction to opera was in the school classroom through our school tour.”
