A Brief History

With the arrival of General Director David Speers in 1998, Arizona Opera set in motion a plan to nurture and expand the artistic excellence of the company. This included innovative sets, costumes and lighting, the engagement of the talented young artists and an “in-house” orchestra with an expanded rehearsal schedule.

In 2000 Arizona Opera took a step further and appointed Maestro Cal Stewart Kellogg as its first Principal Conductor. The largest and most professional group of musicians in the organization’s history was established.

By establishing a dedicated orchestra and principal conductor for the opera, Arizona Opera made a strong artistic commitment to the cultural life of Phoenix and Tucson. The community responded with record subscription sales, increased single ticket sales, sold out productions and enthusiastic critical acclaim.

Since the arrival of Maestro Joel Revzen in in 2003, the company and the orchestra has continued to grow and thrive.  His broad experience, and association with the world-famous Metropolitan Opera, have been a boon to the company.