Arizona Opera – One of the stated objectives of The Roaming Boomers™ on-line luxury travel magazine is to find interesting experiences for our readers.  We think one of the greatest benefits that we bring to you is that we don’t just talk about things to do, but we actually go experience them and bring back that experience through baby boomer’s eyes.

On Saturday night, we were very excited to be sitting in the Arizona Opera’s audience for their production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen.

When I (David) was a kid, Mario Lanza held the dominant position on my parents phonograph.  Even today, my brother and I can easily recall every single aria and musical number from the various Lanza records in my parents collection.

We grew up in the small, rural village of  Middleville, Michigan and the notion of attending an opera wasn’t even a consideration on anyone’s minds.  However, my attendance at a small liberal arts college physically put me in a great many European opera houses and my enthusiasm for opera was forever a part of my very cells.

Needless to say, when Carol and I relocated to Scottsdale, Arizona in 2006, I was very excited to have opera productions available to me within a short distance of our front door.

Arizona Opera is currently celebrating their 40th season, and unconventionally presents its complete season in both Phoenix and Tucson.

Carmen is Georges Bizet’s fiery tale of seduction and jealousy.  The coquettish Carmen’s appetite for men precludes her from maintaining a relationship for longer than six months.  In one of her many flings, she seduces Don José away away from the love of his life.  When she tires of Don José,  in favor of a famous bullfighter (Escamillo), she takes the ring from her finger that Don José had given her and throws it at his feet.  In a jealous rage, Don José stabs Carmen thus preventing any man from having her again.

Ah, the operatic drama of it all.

The best moments for me in this performance were Garrett Sorenson’s (Don José) passionate “La Fleur Que Tu M’avais Jetée“, and Janinah Burnett’s (Micaela) stunning “Je dis que rien ne m’épouvante“.

Unfortunately, Arizona Opera’s production of Georges Bizet’s Carmen has now run it course.  However, Arizona Opera still has three more offerings for this season:

• Giacomo Puccini’s Turandot – January
• Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello – March
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s The Abduction from the Seraglio – April

Arizona Opera provides the quintessential opportunity to dress up to the nines and go experience world class opera with 2,300 of your closest friends. This is an experience that certainly should be on your bucket list.

I can’t wait to see Turandot.  This is the opera that contains “Nessun Dorma” which became Luciano Pavarotti’s signature aria.

It is my understanding that these shows have been selling out.  Therefore, hop on over to Arizona Opera’s website to get your tickets now!

Disclosure:  this wonderful operatic experience was provided by the kind folks at Arizona Opera.  Thanks a bunch!

Note:  photographs are from the Arizona Opera’s digital archives.