Boris Karloff made for a scary Frankenstein’s monster in the 1931 black and white horror film.
But Frankenstein’s monster as a leading man in an opera?
We’re about to find out when ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera mounts the world premiere of composer/librettist Gregg Kallor’s “Frankenstein†to open its 2023-24 season.
“Frankenstein,†which ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera workshopped in 2022 to positive response, is the company’s third world premiere, following 2017’s “Riders of the Purple Sage“ and “The Copper Queen,†which was released as a feature-length film in fall 2021.
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“Frankenstein,†based on the , is one of four operas on tap for the season, which also includes a new community concert series in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and a New Works Festival in Phoenix, where the bi-city company also presents operas.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera joined Broadway in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and True Concord Voices & Orchestra in releasing their 2023-24 seasons, which round out ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s vibrant and varied culture arts scene. announced in January its upcoming season, which includes the return of cello great Yo-Yo Ma and a guest appearance by rising international soprano , wife of TSO Music Director José Luis Gomez.
A ‘rockin’ season
Broadway in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ shines the spotlight on two pop music giants — Michael Jackson and Tina Turner — in its season of big musicals that includes the return of “Hairspray†and the musical comedy “Mrs. Doubtfire.â€
“People love musicals in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and I think that when people think Broadway, I think they think musicals,†said Broadway in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ General Manager Mario Di Vetta. “I think the musicals are Broadway to a lot of people.â€
In addition to Turner, the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll, and Jackson, the King of Pop, the season includes a bio-musical of the R&B-soul band The Temptations.
“I’m excited about next season,†Di Vetta added. “When you have a season with Tina, the Temptations and Michael Jackson? I mean, come on. That’s why I call it the ‘rockin’ 23-24 season.’â€
20 years of True Concord
True Concord marks its 20th year with a season that includes Bach’s dramatic “St. John Passion,†the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ encore of famed soprano Nicole Cabell and the return of two of the choir’s most popular works — Mozart’s C-minor Mass, which put the choir on the choral world’s radar three years into its tenure; and Jocelyn Hagen’s multimedia large-scale choral work “Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci,†which the group performed in 2019.
The season kicks off with True Concord’s signature Americana concert “Songs of America,†featuring spirituals, folks songs and the world premiere of a new piece composed by the winner of True Concord’s Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition. That concert also features Navajo Nation artist, performer and composer Raven Chacon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning “Voiceless Mass,†which True Concord founder and Music Director Eric Holtan said celebrates and acknowledges “the space and the land that many of us have taken for granted.â€
Coincidentally, Chacon’s art exhibit is on display at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s Museum of Contemporary Art through Oct. 22.
Holtan launched True Concord as ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Chamber Artists in 2004, the year he was finishing his doctoral degree in choral conducting at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Fred Fox School of Music. The professional ensemble, whose vocalists come from throughout the United States, changed its name to True Concord in 2015.
The lineups
Season tickets are on sale now but single tickets usually aren’t released until late summer. Check with each group for more details.
ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Opera
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The bi-city professional opera company’s season includes a world premiere, the inaugural New Works Festival for Phoenix in November and a new series of community concerts in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥. Performances are held at the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., and the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave.
“Frankenstein†by composer and librettist Gregg Kallor (world premiere), Oct. 21-22, Temple
Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,†Feb. 3-4, Music Hall
Gounod’s “Roméo & Juliette,†March 9-10, Music Hall
Mozart’s “Don Giovanni,†April 27-28, 2024, Music Hall
Broadway in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
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Broadway tours from musicals and comedies to dramas are presented at Centennial Hall, 1020 E. University Blvd. on the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ campus.
Disney’s “Aladdin†musical, Sept. 5-10
Return of the musical “The Book of Mormon,†Sept. 15-17
“Tina: The Tina Turner Musical,†Oct. 3-8
“Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of The Temptation,†Nov. 28-Dec. 3
25th anniversary tour of “Chicago,†Feb. 9-11, 2024
“MJ: The Musical,†April 2-7, 2024
“Hairspray,†April 23-28, 2024
“Mrs. Doubtfire†the comedy musical, May 28-June 2, 2024
True Concord Voices & Orchestra
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The professional choir and orchestra, under the baton of founder Eric Holtan, celebrates its 20th year with the 2023-24 “Love 20†season. The ensemble performs at venues throughout ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and in Green Valley.
“Songs of America,†Oct. 13-15, featuring the world premiere of the work that won the 2023 Stephen Paulus Emerging Composers Competition
“This is How We Love,†Southwest premiere of True Concord husband-and-wife composers in residence Timothy C. Takach and Jocelyn Hagen multi-movement love song, Nov. 17-19
“Lessons & Carols by Candlelight†holiday concert, Dec. 7-10
“Mozart & Hagen: Two Important Encores,†featuring Mozart’s C-minor Mass and Hagen’s “Notebooks of Leonardo Da Vinci,†Jan. 26-28, 2024
Recital: Timothy C. Takach and Jocelyn Hagen, Jan. 30, 2024, True Concord’s husband-and-wife composers in residence
“St. John’s Passion,†Feb. 23-25, 2024
Recital: Soprano Erika Burkhardt, Feb. 27, 2024
“Gloria & Bernstein,†featuring renowned soprano Nicole Cabell and Holtan’s son, Kristian Holtan, singing the boy soprano role in Bernstein’s “Chichester Psalms,†April 5-7, 2024; part of the 2024 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival
Recital: Soprano Nicole Cabell, April 9, 2024; part of the 2024 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Desert Song Festival