The Opera Guild’s first preview of the season, covering the Arizona Opera Company’s production of The Falling and the Rising and the UA Opera Theater’s current offering, The Marriage of Figaro, was an artistic success. However, the attendance was much less than we had hoped. To make sure you don’t miss any of the forthcoming previews, all the details are below, as well as on the enclosed bookmark. The previews are held at two locations on different days and times, and under different names.

Say Hello to Opera

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Friendship Hall, 7650 N Paseo del Norte, Tucson; Thursdays, 2:00-3:00 pm

• December 1, 2022: Ariadne auf Naxos
• January 19, 2023: Tosca
• March 2, 2023: The Sound of Music
• March 30, 2023: The Magic Flute

Brown Bag Opera

Grace–St.Paul’s Episcopal Church, 2331 E. Adams Street, Tucson; Fridays 12:00 to 1:00 pm
(Bring your lunch; dessert and coffee are provided)

• December 2, 2022: Ariadne auf Naxos
• January 20, 2023: Tosca
• March 3, 2023: The Sound of Music
• March 31, 2023: The Magic Flute

Based on the students’ performances last month, we anticipate nothing less than the highest quality and truly enjoyable entertainment. It makes us all feel very good to know that, while we are enjoying the lively discussions and singing, we are also providing the students much-needed opportunities to perform for a live audience and to earn financial rewards. Supporting the students has been a key mission of the Guild since our founding in 1958.

Besides joining us at the previews, you can help us support opera education by renewing your Opera Guild membership. You can use the enclosed membership form, or renew on line at azogsa.org. If you have already renewed, you have our sincere thanks.

We look forward to seeing you at the previews, and bring your friends!

Rosie P. García, President

Lively Discussions & Singing  FREE ADMISSION Donations are appreciated to support 0pera students.

Brown Bag Opera! Fridays – Noon to 1pm  BRING YOUR OWN LUNCH  Dessert and Coffee Provided October 14, 2022 The Falling and the Rising December 2, 2022   Ariadne auf Naxos January 20, 2023 Tosca March 3, 2023 The Sound of Music March 31,2023 The Magic Flute HELD AT Grace-St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Hall 2331 E Adams Street Tucson, AZ 85719 Presented by the Opera Guild of Southern Arizona Say Hello to Opera! (Note days and times below)   Saturday, October 15, 2022, 1:00-2:00pm The Falling and the Rising The following programs are on Thursdays from 2:00 to 3:00pm: December 1, 2022 Ariadne auf Naxos January 19, 2023 Tosca March 2, 2023 The Sound of Music March 30, 2023  The Magic Flute HELD AT   St. Andrew’s Presbyterian  Church Friendship Hall 7650 N Paseo Del Norte (east side of street)  Tucson, AZ 85704   Presented by the Opera Guild of Southern Arizona

After a long hiatus, OGSA’s Opera Previews are returning live!  We will be presenting previews of the final two productions of Arizona Opera’s 2021-22 season, A Little Night Music and  Cosí fan tutte. New this season is a larger venue for our previews, St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church’s Fellowship Hall, which provides the space needed for best Covid practices for live performances.

As always, there is no charge for these community events, but donations of $5 or more per person are much appreciated, and go toward honoraria for our students. Also owing to the pandemic, no food is allowed in the church hall and masks are required.

Coming Soon: We preview A Little Night Music March 4

Our first live preview of 2022 takes place at St. Andrew’s at 2:30pm on March 4. Arizona Opera Company will present A Little Night Music in Tucson on March 12 and 13. A special draw is Metropolitan Opera soprano Patricia Racette. We’ll give you an advance peek, featuring student singers.

Here’s what Arizona Opera Co. has to say about this modern classic:

Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film, Smiles of a Summer Night, A Little Night Music focuses on a deliciously tangled web of affairs, all ripe with the possibility of new love and second chances. A comedy of manners with rapturous music, it is moving, witty, heartbreaking, and—most of all—a celebration of love. Among the songs in this groundbreaking theatrical piece is Send in the Clowns, one of the most recorded songs of all time.

Our presenter will be Darnell T. Roulhac, Assistant Professor of Practice in Musical Theatre Voice at the University of Arizona’s School of Theatre, Film and Television. Musical selections will be performed by four talented student singers, Hanna Hufford, Danny Bass, Lillie Langston, and Erin McDaniel; the accompanist will be Kyungsun Choi. Don’t miss this romp through the glorious music of America’s treasured composer Stephen Sondheim.

Mozart Gem Cosí  Rounds Out the Season

Our preview season concludes with Mozart’s Cosí fan tutte at St. Andrew’s on April 8 at 2:30 pm. As Arizona Opera puts it, Cosí “tells the story of two sisters who are falsely led to believe that their fiancés have been called to war. In truth, their lovers were only out to test their fidelity; they swiftly return home in disguise to seek the truth.” Oh, the perils of operatic love! We’ll give you further details as they are available.

Say Hello to Opera! returns in a new venue, Friendship Hall of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church. (See address in the box below.)

After a long hiatus due to COVID19, our very popular live presentations of opera highlights return with an American classic, Aaron Copland’s The Tender Land, at 2:30 p.m.on December 3. As noted in our previous Presto! the opera has already been performed by UA Opera Theater in Crowder Hall. If you missed it, here is your chance to learn about the opera and enjoy some of the arias. Future presentations of Say Hello to Opera! will take place before each UA production. (See operas and dates below.)

Please note our new location: St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church Friendship Hall, 7650 N. Paseo del Norte. UA Opera Theater Director Cynthia Stokes will narrate and UA opera students will sing arias. As always, there is no charge for these community events, but donations of $5 or more per person are much appreciated, and go toward honoraria for our students.

Also owing to the pandemic, no food is allowed in the church hall and masks are required. For the same reason, our Brown Bag Opera previews cannot be held this season.