Arizona Opera Ends Season By Announcing A $2 Million Gift

TUCSON, AZ – The Arizona Opera certainly knows how to bring their season to a close. Forget about the fat lady singing, everyone was signing as the opera finished its 2017-2018 season by announcing that they've received a $2 million gift.

The money from Kay and Ron McDougall – he was the former CEO of the company that owns Chili's Grill & Bar – is allowing the company to create a new series they are calling the "McDougall Arizona Opera Red Series."

The series is focused on presenting new opera productions in smaller spaces.

"We are excited by Arizona Opera’s expansive vision and leadership, and believe in the potential of the RED Series to help build stronger, more connected communities through the art form of opera," McDougall says. (Get Tucson Patch's daily newsletter and real-time news alerts. Or, find your local Patch here and subscribe).

"What I have learned as a first-year board member is that Arizona Opera is on a mission to bring something thrilling to the state, and to become one of the most exciting opera companies in the country."

The company's president and general director, Joseph Specter, called the gift, "an extraordinary vote of confidence in our strategic direction as we strive toward making our greatest contribution to Arizona’s arts and culture sector, which is such a crucial factor for any state’s quality of life and prospects for economic development."

The new series launches next fall with Maria de Buenos Aires, by Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer, and Charlie Parker’s Yardbird, by Daniel Schnyder and Bridgette A. Wimberly.

The productions will be staged in Phoenix at the Herberger Theater and in Tucson at the Temple of Music and Art.

The company's Main Stage Season will be presented each winter and spring in the traditional venues, Symphony Hall in Phoenix and the Tucson Music Hall.

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Photo courtesy Arizona Opera