The 2011-12 season presents five remarkable operas that will excite, thrill and engage both opera lovers and new friends to this inclusive art form.

The season begins with the dynamic duo of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci followed by a thrilling new production of Faust by Bernard Uzan. Arizona Opera has not presented this thought-provoking story of a man struggling for his soul in over 20 years and it promises to be a highlight of the year. In the spring, two of opera’s most fascinating women make appearances on our stage, the charming and heartbreaking Madama Butterfly and the triumphant return of Aida after an absence of over 10 years.

It is always a thrill to share a new vision or important work with our audience. We close the season with the premiere of Orfeo ed Euridice. A retelling of the Greek myth will be presented with great beauty and dignity. Season packages start at $84 and single tickets from just $25 per person. Join us for the 2011-12 Season! Click here to subscribe now.

Since 1929, the Heard Museum, a private non-profit organization, has enchanted visitors from around the world with the art, culture and history of American Indians, with an emphasis on tribes of the Southwest.

This season, the Heard Museum of Native Cultures and Art will turn the spotlight on an American icon. Geronimo, the famed Apache leader, will be the subject of a groundbreaking new exhibit that will explore the man and the mythology that has grown around him. Beyond Geronimo:The Apache Experience opens Feb. 11, 2012, just in time for the Arizona Centennial, and is sure to be a much-discussed exhibit.

Also, learn more about Arizona’s official neckwear, the bolo tie, in the exhibit Native American Bolo Ties: Vintage and Contemporary.

Other favorite events include: the Navajo Weavers Marketplace, the 10th Annual Spanish Market, the 22nd Annual World Championship Hoop Dance Contest, the Indian Fair & Market and the Katsina Doll Marketplace.

Event details can be found at heard.org.

This season, some of Broadway’s brightest stars take center stage!
 

Bebe Neuwirth - Oct. 15
Tyne Daly - Jan. 27
Patti Lupone - Mar. 3
Jane Krakowski - Mar. 31


See them all with the new 4-Show Savings Package, or choose your favorites. Tickets are going fast, so order today at ScottsdalePerformingArts.org.

And for classical music fans: Known for his musical partnership with violinist Joshua Bell and his popular blog, virtuoso pianist Jeremy Denk opens the Virginia G. Piper Piano Series at Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts on Sun., Nov. 13. He performs Beethoven’s Eroica Variations, Op. 35, and Sonata, Op. 101; Brahms’ Klavierstucke, Op. 119; and Ligeti’s Etudes.

Writing is a wonderful way to express your creativity. Enrollment is now open for fall Piper Writers Studio classes, sponsored by the Virginia G. Piper Center for Creative Writing at ASU. In-person and online classes are available starting Sept 15.



Save the date for the 2012 Desert Nights, Rising Stars Writers Conference, Feb. 23-26 on the Tempe Campus. Details at asu.edu/piper.

SMoCA, the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art, is pleased to introduce the new SMoCA Lounge during the Fall Opening Celebration on Oct. 28, where a gallery is transformed into a swanky gathering spot to mix and mingle. As always, visits to the museum on Thursdays are FREE.

Plus, classical music fans will want to save the date for Fri., Jun. 8 when composer Judd Greenstein opens a new multimedia collaboration with the visual artists of New Catalogue.

Arizona Science Center is proud to announce its new Grandparents Membership. This special membership provides general admission for two adults (one, age 65+) and up to four grandchildren (ages 3-17) all year round, plus special discounts, Sky Cycle tickets and invitations to members-only events!




Be sure to check out the new Real Pirates exhibition, opening Oct. 2.