AJ Four Ways: Text Only (by date) | headlines only
DANCE
IDEAS
- “Trump”-l’Oeil & “Entrumpy”: Museums’ Re-envisioned Missions Under a Capricious Ruler
Call it entrumpy—a “gradual decline into disorder” (riffing on “entropy”), attributable to the unpredictability of our unprecedented President.
Exploiting his
- Arizona Opera seeks General Director
Arizona Opera has reopened an international search and invites nominations and applications for the position of General Director, available July 1, 2025.
Arizona Opera, founded in 1971, is a cornerstone of the arts and culture community in Arizona, serving both Phoenix and Tucson with a mission to connect and inspire its communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice. Over the years, Arizona Opera has become known for its innovative productions, prolific education and community-centric programming, and commitment to both classic and contemporary works. Alumni of Arizona Opera’s Pullen Opera Studio regularly appear with leading opera companies throughout the world.
At the heart of Arizona Opera’s vision is a deep commitment to creating transformative experiences through the power of opera. This commitment is evident in Arizona Opera’s mainstage productions, its community engagement initiatives, and its education programs that reach across the state, bringing the art form to diverse audiences and inspiring future generations of artists and opera lovers alike.
Like many performing arts organizations around the country, Arizona Opera is navigating the challenges of the post-pandemic landscape, including issues affecting attendance and contributed income. To address these challenges, Arizona Opera has recently adopted a new strategic plan, focused on financial and organizational sustainability; community impact and awareness; and innovation.
The 2024/25 Season features groundbreaking initiatives aligned with this strategic plan. Notably, Arizona Opera has introduced the “Beyond Downtown” program, part of the McDougall RED Series, which brings opera beyond its traditional venues and into the broader Arizona community. The season includes productions of classics, La Bohème and Aida, the Arizona premiere of the adventure opera Zorro, and the expansion of its annual Tucson recital program into the Phoenix metro area as well. Additionally, Arizona Opera continues its robust statewide education programs, thus ensuring that opera remains accessible and makes an impact across the entire state. The Company presented more than 130 in-school performances in the past season alone.
Arizona Opera continues to incorporate cutting-edge technology into its productions as part of its commitment to both innovation and sustainability. The 2024/25 Season will showcase an AI-supported concert version of Verdi’s Aida, utilizing Arizona Opera’s state-of-the-art LED Video Wall to create an immersive and visually stunning experience that redefines how opera can be presented. This innovative approach addresses the cost challenges of large-scale productions while opening new avenues for artistic expression and audience engagement.
Arizona Opera is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors and has 18 full-time staff members. The Company receives valuable support from the Valley Friends of Arizona Opera, the Arizona Opera League Tucson, and the Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera. The annual operating budget is $5 million.
Joseph Specter, President & General Director, will conclude his eight-year tenure with the Company at the end of the 2024/25 season. Specter, who has led Arizona Opera through a transformative period, will continue to oversee the organization during the search for new leadership.
The Opportunity
The next General Director of Arizona Opera will join an organization that has responded to significant pandemic-related financial and operational challenges by making necessary reductions in operating costs while increasing institutional energies directed toward fundraising and audience development. The Company has embraced a framework for long-term budget and program growth that will reimagine how a vibrant regional opera company produces both traditional opera and new work in ways that ensure financial stability, deepen community impact and awareness, and expand the audience for opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state. The next General Director will influence and lead the implementation of Arizona Opera’s growth plan for a strong and sustainable future.
The Position
The General Director is the chief executive officer of Arizona Opera and reports to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. The General Director provides leadership to ensure that the Company fulfills its mission and realizes its vision “to be a statewide cultural community connected through resonant experiences that create a sense of inspiration and belonging for all Arizonans.” Within the strategic framework established by the Board of Trustees, the General Director ensures that the Company achieves its goals for organizational stability; community impact and awareness; and innovation. As the visible spokesperson for Arizona Opera, the General Director builds public awareness and appreciation for the Company within Phoenix and Tucson and throughout the state of Arizona, and ensures that Arizona Opera embraces, engages, reflects, and celebrates the rich diversity of the greater Arizona community.
The General Director is responsible and accountable for the artistic, financial, and organizational success of Arizona Opera. The General Director provides leadership and direction in determining repertoire, productions, singers, conductors, stage directors, designers, and composers for the Company’s main stage and other productions. The General Director ensures that the Company negotiates, implements, and observes the terms and conditions of collective bargaining agreements and other contracts and fosters an environment that allows singers, conductors, orchestra musicians, chorus members, technical staff, and production staff to do their best work.
The General Director is responsible for the overall management of Arizona Opera’s $5 million budget, ensuring the Company’s long-term sustainability. The General Director oversees the development of annual and multi-year budgets that balance artistic aspirations with financial realities and oversees all aspects of the Company’s operations. The General Director provides direction, management, and oversight to a high-performing artistic and administrative staff team.
The General Director devotes significant time and energy to fundraising, and takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts. The General Director provides support to the work of the Board in both annual and endowment fundraising. The General Director provides guidance, support, and oversight to the marketing staff as they develop innovative ways to attract and welcome both veteran and new audiences to Arizona Opera performances in both Phoenix and Tucson.
The General Director ensures a safe and supportive work environment and a culture that celebrates diversity and instills the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the Company. The General Director encourages teamwork within and across operating departments, ensures effective communication, and promotes transparency throughout the Company. Working with the Board Chair, the General Director provides impetus and support to the work of the Board and its committees, identifies potential Board and committee members, and ensures that the Board has timely and accurate information for decision-making and good governance.
The General Director is the visible representative and spokesperson for Arizona Opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state, and is an active participant in the business and cultural life of the community.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be an experienced executive with a passion for opera and a thorough knowledge of artists, repertoire, and all aspects of opera production. The candidate will be a strategic thinker with excellent planning, financial management, fundraising, marketing, and overall business skills. The candidate will have a strong commitment to the principles of access, equity, and inclusion in all aspect of the Company’s work and operations. The candidate will have a record of success in engaging, expanding, and retaining audiences for both traditional opera and contemporary work.
The successful candidate will have the demonstrated ability to recruit, motivate, supervise, and evaluate professional administrative and artistic staff. The candidate will have successful experience working in partnership with Board leadership to recruit, engage, and inspire a volunteer Board of Trustees.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with a proven record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and providing excellent stewardship for gifts from individual and institutional donors. The candidate will have experience structuring and implementing fundraising campaigns for annual support, underwriting and special project support, endowment, and planned giving. The successful candidate will inspire both trustees and staff to achieve and exceed annual and long-term fundraising goals. The candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively about the importance of opera in general and Arizona Opera in particular.
The successful candidate will have a deep commitment to the highest possible artistic standards in all aspects of the Company’s work. The candidate will have the demonstrated ability to work effectively with artistic leadership to achieve mutually held artistic goals. The candidate will have successful experience working with professional musicians in a collective bargaining environment. Experience overseeing an effective young artists program will be an asset.
The successful candidate will have a vision for future of American opera and a personal desire to help move the art form forward in the decades ahead. The candidate will be creative, curious, and imaginative. The candidate will be kind and generous in spirit. The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards with a strong commitment to transparency in all aspects of the work.
The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to make a home in Arizona, become an active full -time participant in the life of the communities of greater Phoenix and Tucson, and realize Arizona Opera’s vision to bring opera to audiences throughout the state.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Arizona Opera offers a competitive benefits package as well.
Applications
Arizona Opera welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter that describes specific interest in Arizona Opera and outlines experience and qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. Please send this letter with a resumé. On a separate sheet, please also include the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement. Electronic submissions are requested.
The position will remain open until filled; the Transition Committee will begin to review credentials in late February.
Arizona Opera
c/o Catherine French Group
2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623
Washington, DC 20007
applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com(Adobe Acrobat PDF attachments only, please)
- Wales’ National Museum Closes Indefinitely For Repairs
The closure comes nine months after Wales’ Culture Secretary assured the historic building would remain open, despite concerns from the museum’s director over its deteriorating condition. – BBC
- A Cantonese Opera About Donald Trump
A Hong Kong troupe specializing in the traditional form (a sort of cousin to the better-known Beijing opera) has produced a modern-dress piece based on the 2024 election, with Trump and Kamala Harris singing in Cantonese — and it’s a hit. – AP
- Streaming Companies Will Outspend Commercial Broadcasters This Year For The First Time
Of that figure, Ampere claims that streaming services will spending $95 billion on content this year, a 39% share, while commercial broadcasters will comprise 37%. The rest of the spend will be made up by public broadcasters (9%), theatrical studios (8%) and pay-TV (7%). – Variety
ISSUES
- Wales’ National Museum Closes Indefinitely For Repairs
The closure comes nine months after Wales’ Culture Secretary assured the historic building would remain open, despite concerns from the museum’s director over its deteriorating condition. – BBC
- Trump’s Threatened Tariffs Throw Gallery Owners Into Uncertainty
For both galleries in Mexico and those traveling to Mexico City to participate in the city’s three fairs—Zona Maco, Material, and Salón Acme—there appears to be both worry and uncertainty over what effect the impending tariffs might have on collectors’ purchasing behavior, if any, or what costs galleries will have to absorb. – ARTnews
- Chrysler Building Has Been Repossessed by Cooper Union
The art/architecture/engineering school, which owns the land under the midtown Manhattan landmark 35 blocks uptown, had been leasing the building to real estate developer RFR Holdings, which fell $21 million behind on the rent. – Curbed (MSN)
- Van Gogh Museum Summarily Rejects That $50 Garage-Sale Painting; Experts Suggest Different Attribution
The LMI Group spent years using high-teach chemical and data analysis to produce a 431-page report arguing that the portrait of a fisherman is a late van Gogh painting. The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam promptly dismissed LMI’s argument, while other observers pointed to someone else as the likely artist. – ARTnews
- The Practice Of Architecture Is About To Become Unrecognizable
With the rise of technology there are radical changes headed our way and the architecture/design industry as we know it (and have known it for generations) will soon cease to exist as a result. This is not necessarily a bad thing. – Fast Company
MEDIA
- Arts Organizations Fret About Threats To Arts Funding Under Trump Administration
The fate of those grants now appears to be in limbo. A spokesperson for the NEA said the agency is “currently reviewing the recent executive orders, accompanying guidance from the White House Office of Management and Budget, and related documents to ensure compliance and provide the required reporting.” – Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
- Temple University Buys Main Academic Building Of Now-Shuttered University of The Arts
“Terra Hall at Broad and Walnut Streets, just a few blocks from (Philadelphia’s) City Hall, is the second UArts building to complete the sales process through the (bankruptcy) court.” Temple, located in North Philadelphia, intends to make Terra Hall its Center City campus. – The Philadelphia Inquirer (MSN)
- US Copyright Says Its 1965 Law Anticipated (And Settled) AI Issues
The Copyright Office insisted that the AI copyright debate was settled in 1965 after commercial computer technology started advancing quickly and “difficult questions of authorship” were first raised. That was the first time officials had to ponder how much involvement human creators had in works created using computers. – Ars Technica
- The Use Of Fandom Tactics To Smear Blake Lively May Be The Future Of Ugly Hollywood PR
“People can manipulate what we see on social media, and … this case will only make it easier for publicists to monopolize fandom tactics to hate women online.” – Slate
- Nicolas Cage, Like Many Actors, Isn’t Into Artificial Intelligence
After winning an award, Cage said, “I am a big believer in not letting robots dream for us. Robots cannot reflect the human condition for us. That is a dead end.” – Variety
MUSIC
- How Blurbing Books Wrecked My Life
Early in my career I decided it was my duty to write at least twice as many blurbs as I received. I’ve now written about 20 times as many, and I’ve been happy to do it. But recently three things broke me. – The New York Times
- Barnes & Noble To Open 60 New Stores In 2025
“In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019 . . . [The company] is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful.” – Fast Company
- How To Read Like A Translator
Translators deal with the “especially strong constraint” of the tight relationship between the original text and the new one, but the latter is still, well, new. At the end of the day, the translator’s job, the essential aspect of moving a text from one language to another, is to write a new book—and write it well. – The Nation
- Sales Of Two Fiction Subgenres Are Soaring Thanks to BookTok
“Sales of science fiction and fantasy books rocketed last year, with their value increasing by 41.3% between 2023 and 2024. The booming popularity of romantasy – the subgenre blending elements of fantasy and romance that is a favourite of TikTok’s BookTok community – helped drive the rise.” – The Guardian
- That Tough Move From Short Stories To Novels
It hasn’t been so hard for Irish writer Colin Barrett. “It was very rewarding in the end. And, immediately, another idea that definitely is a novel and not a short story suggested itself” – set in County Mayo, of course, which Barrett says “is still juicy.” – The Guardian (UK)
PEOPLE
- “Trump”-l’Oeil & “Entrumpy”: Museums’ Re-envisioned Missions Under a Capricious Ruler
Call it entrumpy—a “gradual decline into disorder” (riffing on “entropy”), attributable to the unpredictability of our unprecedented President.
Exploiting his
- Arizona Opera seeks General Director
Arizona Opera has reopened an international search and invites nominations and applications for the position of General Director, available July 1, 2025.
Arizona Opera, founded in 1971, is a cornerstone of the arts and culture community in Arizona, serving both Phoenix and Tucson with a mission to connect and inspire its communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice. Over the years, Arizona Opera has become known for its innovative productions, prolific education and community-centric programming, and commitment to both classic and contemporary works. Alumni of Arizona Opera’s Pullen Opera Studio regularly appear with leading opera companies throughout the world.
At the heart of Arizona Opera’s vision is a deep commitment to creating transformative experiences through the power of opera. This commitment is evident in Arizona Opera’s mainstage productions, its community engagement initiatives, and its education programs that reach across the state, bringing the art form to diverse audiences and inspiring future generations of artists and opera lovers alike.
Like many performing arts organizations around the country, Arizona Opera is navigating the challenges of the post-pandemic landscape, including issues affecting attendance and contributed income. To address these challenges, Arizona Opera has recently adopted a new strategic plan, focused on financial and organizational sustainability; community impact and awareness; and innovation.
The 2024/25 Season features groundbreaking initiatives aligned with this strategic plan. Notably, Arizona Opera has introduced the “Beyond Downtown” program, part of the McDougall RED Series, which brings opera beyond its traditional venues and into the broader Arizona community. The season includes productions of classics, La Bohème and Aida, the Arizona premiere of the adventure opera Zorro, and the expansion of its annual Tucson recital program into the Phoenix metro area as well. Additionally, Arizona Opera continues its robust statewide education programs, thus ensuring that opera remains accessible and makes an impact across the entire state. The Company presented more than 130 in-school performances in the past season alone.
Arizona Opera continues to incorporate cutting-edge technology into its productions as part of its commitment to both innovation and sustainability. The 2024/25 Season will showcase an AI-supported concert version of Verdi’s Aida, utilizing Arizona Opera’s state-of-the-art LED Video Wall to create an immersive and visually stunning experience that redefines how opera can be presented. This innovative approach addresses the cost challenges of large-scale productions while opening new avenues for artistic expression and audience engagement.
Arizona Opera is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors and has 18 full-time staff members. The Company receives valuable support from the Valley Friends of Arizona Opera, the Arizona Opera League Tucson, and the Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera. The annual operating budget is $5 million.
Joseph Specter, President & General Director, will conclude his eight-year tenure with the Company at the end of the 2024/25 season. Specter, who has led Arizona Opera through a transformative period, will continue to oversee the organization during the search for new leadership.
The Opportunity
The next General Director of Arizona Opera will join an organization that has responded to significant pandemic-related financial and operational challenges by making necessary reductions in operating costs while increasing institutional energies directed toward fundraising and audience development. The Company has embraced a framework for long-term budget and program growth that will reimagine how a vibrant regional opera company produces both traditional opera and new work in ways that ensure financial stability, deepen community impact and awareness, and expand the audience for opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state. The next General Director will influence and lead the implementation of Arizona Opera’s growth plan for a strong and sustainable future.
The Position
The General Director is the chief executive officer of Arizona Opera and reports to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. The General Director provides leadership to ensure that the Company fulfills its mission and realizes its vision “to be a statewide cultural community connected through resonant experiences that create a sense of inspiration and belonging for all Arizonans.” Within the strategic framework established by the Board of Trustees, the General Director ensures that the Company achieves its goals for organizational stability; community impact and awareness; and innovation. As the visible spokesperson for Arizona Opera, the General Director builds public awareness and appreciation for the Company within Phoenix and Tucson and throughout the state of Arizona, and ensures that Arizona Opera embraces, engages, reflects, and celebrates the rich diversity of the greater Arizona community.
The General Director is responsible and accountable for the artistic, financial, and organizational success of Arizona Opera. The General Director provides leadership and direction in determining repertoire, productions, singers, conductors, stage directors, designers, and composers for the Company’s main stage and other productions. The General Director ensures that the Company negotiates, implements, and observes the terms and conditions of collective bargaining agreements and other contracts and fosters an environment that allows singers, conductors, orchestra musicians, chorus members, technical staff, and production staff to do their best work.
The General Director is responsible for the overall management of Arizona Opera’s $5 million budget, ensuring the Company’s long-term sustainability. The General Director oversees the development of annual and multi-year budgets that balance artistic aspirations with financial realities and oversees all aspects of the Company’s operations. The General Director provides direction, management, and oversight to a high-performing artistic and administrative staff team.
The General Director devotes significant time and energy to fundraising, and takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts. The General Director provides support to the work of the Board in both annual and endowment fundraising. The General Director provides guidance, support, and oversight to the marketing staff as they develop innovative ways to attract and welcome both veteran and new audiences to Arizona Opera performances in both Phoenix and Tucson.
The General Director ensures a safe and supportive work environment and a culture that celebrates diversity and instills the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the Company. The General Director encourages teamwork within and across operating departments, ensures effective communication, and promotes transparency throughout the Company. Working with the Board Chair, the General Director provides impetus and support to the work of the Board and its committees, identifies potential Board and committee members, and ensures that the Board has timely and accurate information for decision-making and good governance.
The General Director is the visible representative and spokesperson for Arizona Opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state, and is an active participant in the business and cultural life of the community.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be an experienced executive with a passion for opera and a thorough knowledge of artists, repertoire, and all aspects of opera production. The candidate will be a strategic thinker with excellent planning, financial management, fundraising, marketing, and overall business skills. The candidate will have a strong commitment to the principles of access, equity, and inclusion in all aspect of the Company’s work and operations. The candidate will have a record of success in engaging, expanding, and retaining audiences for both traditional opera and contemporary work.
The successful candidate will have the demonstrated ability to recruit, motivate, supervise, and evaluate professional administrative and artistic staff. The candidate will have successful experience working in partnership with Board leadership to recruit, engage, and inspire a volunteer Board of Trustees.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with a proven record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and providing excellent stewardship for gifts from individual and institutional donors. The candidate will have experience structuring and implementing fundraising campaigns for annual support, underwriting and special project support, endowment, and planned giving. The successful candidate will inspire both trustees and staff to achieve and exceed annual and long-term fundraising goals. The candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively about the importance of opera in general and Arizona Opera in particular.
The successful candidate will have a deep commitment to the highest possible artistic standards in all aspects of the Company’s work. The candidate will have the demonstrated ability to work effectively with artistic leadership to achieve mutually held artistic goals. The candidate will have successful experience working with professional musicians in a collective bargaining environment. Experience overseeing an effective young artists program will be an asset.
The successful candidate will have a vision for future of American opera and a personal desire to help move the art form forward in the decades ahead. The candidate will be creative, curious, and imaginative. The candidate will be kind and generous in spirit. The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards with a strong commitment to transparency in all aspects of the work.
The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to make a home in Arizona, become an active full -time participant in the life of the communities of greater Phoenix and Tucson, and realize Arizona Opera’s vision to bring opera to audiences throughout the state.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Arizona Opera offers a competitive benefits package as well.
Applications
Arizona Opera welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter that describes specific interest in Arizona Opera and outlines experience and qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. Please send this letter with a resumé. On a separate sheet, please also include the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement. Electronic submissions are requested.
The position will remain open until filled; the Transition Committee will begin to review credentials in late February.
Arizona Opera
c/o Catherine French Group
2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623
Washington, DC 20007
applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com(Adobe Acrobat PDF attachments only, please)
- Wales’ National Museum Closes Indefinitely For Repairs
The closure comes nine months after Wales’ Culture Secretary assured the historic building would remain open, despite concerns from the museum’s director over its deteriorating condition. – BBC
- A Cantonese Opera About Donald Trump
A Hong Kong troupe specializing in the traditional form (a sort of cousin to the better-known Beijing opera) has produced a modern-dress piece based on the 2024 election, with Trump and Kamala Harris singing in Cantonese — and it’s a hit. – AP
- Streaming Companies Will Outspend Commercial Broadcasters This Year For The First Time
Of that figure, Ampere claims that streaming services will spending $95 billion on content this year, a 39% share, while commercial broadcasters will comprise 37%. The rest of the spend will be made up by public broadcasters (9%), theatrical studios (8%) and pay-TV (7%). – Variety
PEOPLE
- “Trump”-l’Oeil & “Entrumpy”: Museums’ Re-envisioned Missions Under a Capricious Ruler
Call it entrumpy—a “gradual decline into disorder” (riffing on “entropy”), attributable to the unpredictability of our unprecedented President.
Exploiting his
- Arizona Opera seeks General Director
Arizona Opera has reopened an international search and invites nominations and applications for the position of General Director, available July 1, 2025.
Arizona Opera, founded in 1971, is a cornerstone of the arts and culture community in Arizona, serving both Phoenix and Tucson with a mission to connect and inspire its communities through artistically vibrant programs and productions that combine music, storytelling, and the human voice. Over the years, Arizona Opera has become known for its innovative productions, prolific education and community-centric programming, and commitment to both classic and contemporary works. Alumni of Arizona Opera’s Pullen Opera Studio regularly appear with leading opera companies throughout the world.
At the heart of Arizona Opera’s vision is a deep commitment to creating transformative experiences through the power of opera. This commitment is evident in Arizona Opera’s mainstage productions, its community engagement initiatives, and its education programs that reach across the state, bringing the art form to diverse audiences and inspiring future generations of artists and opera lovers alike.
Like many performing arts organizations around the country, Arizona Opera is navigating the challenges of the post-pandemic landscape, including issues affecting attendance and contributed income. To address these challenges, Arizona Opera has recently adopted a new strategic plan, focused on financial and organizational sustainability; community impact and awareness; and innovation.
The 2024/25 Season features groundbreaking initiatives aligned with this strategic plan. Notably, Arizona Opera has introduced the “Beyond Downtown” program, part of the McDougall RED Series, which brings opera beyond its traditional venues and into the broader Arizona community. The season includes productions of classics, La Bohème and Aida, the Arizona premiere of the adventure opera Zorro, and the expansion of its annual Tucson recital program into the Phoenix metro area as well. Additionally, Arizona Opera continues its robust statewide education programs, thus ensuring that opera remains accessible and makes an impact across the entire state. The Company presented more than 130 in-school performances in the past season alone.
Arizona Opera continues to incorporate cutting-edge technology into its productions as part of its commitment to both innovation and sustainability. The 2024/25 Season will showcase an AI-supported concert version of Verdi’s Aida, utilizing Arizona Opera’s state-of-the-art LED Video Wall to create an immersive and visually stunning experience that redefines how opera can be presented. This innovative approach addresses the cost challenges of large-scale productions while opening new avenues for artistic expression and audience engagement.
Arizona Opera is governed by a 32-member Board of Directors and has 18 full-time staff members. The Company receives valuable support from the Valley Friends of Arizona Opera, the Arizona Opera League Tucson, and the Prescott Friends of Arizona Opera. The annual operating budget is $5 million.
Joseph Specter, President & General Director, will conclude his eight-year tenure with the Company at the end of the 2024/25 season. Specter, who has led Arizona Opera through a transformative period, will continue to oversee the organization during the search for new leadership.
The Opportunity
The next General Director of Arizona Opera will join an organization that has responded to significant pandemic-related financial and operational challenges by making necessary reductions in operating costs while increasing institutional energies directed toward fundraising and audience development. The Company has embraced a framework for long-term budget and program growth that will reimagine how a vibrant regional opera company produces both traditional opera and new work in ways that ensure financial stability, deepen community impact and awareness, and expand the audience for opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state. The next General Director will influence and lead the implementation of Arizona Opera’s growth plan for a strong and sustainable future.
The Position
The General Director is the chief executive officer of Arizona Opera and reports to the Board of Trustees through the Chair. The General Director provides leadership to ensure that the Company fulfills its mission and realizes its vision “to be a statewide cultural community connected through resonant experiences that create a sense of inspiration and belonging for all Arizonans.” Within the strategic framework established by the Board of Trustees, the General Director ensures that the Company achieves its goals for organizational stability; community impact and awareness; and innovation. As the visible spokesperson for Arizona Opera, the General Director builds public awareness and appreciation for the Company within Phoenix and Tucson and throughout the state of Arizona, and ensures that Arizona Opera embraces, engages, reflects, and celebrates the rich diversity of the greater Arizona community.
The General Director is responsible and accountable for the artistic, financial, and organizational success of Arizona Opera. The General Director provides leadership and direction in determining repertoire, productions, singers, conductors, stage directors, designers, and composers for the Company’s main stage and other productions. The General Director ensures that the Company negotiates, implements, and observes the terms and conditions of collective bargaining agreements and other contracts and fosters an environment that allows singers, conductors, orchestra musicians, chorus members, technical staff, and production staff to do their best work.
The General Director is responsible for the overall management of Arizona Opera’s $5 million budget, ensuring the Company’s long-term sustainability. The General Director oversees the development of annual and multi-year budgets that balance artistic aspirations with financial realities and oversees all aspects of the Company’s operations. The General Director provides direction, management, and oversight to a high-performing artistic and administrative staff team.
The General Director devotes significant time and energy to fundraising, and takes a leadership role in the identification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of gifts. The General Director provides support to the work of the Board in both annual and endowment fundraising. The General Director provides guidance, support, and oversight to the marketing staff as they develop innovative ways to attract and welcome both veteran and new audiences to Arizona Opera performances in both Phoenix and Tucson.
The General Director ensures a safe and supportive work environment and a culture that celebrates diversity and instills the values of equity, inclusion, and belonging throughout the Company. The General Director encourages teamwork within and across operating departments, ensures effective communication, and promotes transparency throughout the Company. Working with the Board Chair, the General Director provides impetus and support to the work of the Board and its committees, identifies potential Board and committee members, and ensures that the Board has timely and accurate information for decision-making and good governance.
The General Director is the visible representative and spokesperson for Arizona Opera in Phoenix, Tucson, and throughout the state, and is an active participant in the business and cultural life of the community.
Candidate Profile
The successful candidate will be an experienced executive with a passion for opera and a thorough knowledge of artists, repertoire, and all aspects of opera production. The candidate will be a strategic thinker with excellent planning, financial management, fundraising, marketing, and overall business skills. The candidate will have a strong commitment to the principles of access, equity, and inclusion in all aspect of the Company’s work and operations. The candidate will have a record of success in engaging, expanding, and retaining audiences for both traditional opera and contemporary work.
The successful candidate will have the demonstrated ability to recruit, motivate, supervise, and evaluate professional administrative and artistic staff. The candidate will have successful experience working in partnership with Board leadership to recruit, engage, and inspire a volunteer Board of Trustees.
The successful candidate will be an enthusiastic fundraiser with a proven record of success in cultivating, soliciting, and providing excellent stewardship for gifts from individual and institutional donors. The candidate will have experience structuring and implementing fundraising campaigns for annual support, underwriting and special project support, endowment, and planned giving. The successful candidate will inspire both trustees and staff to achieve and exceed annual and long-term fundraising goals. The candidate will be able to speak and write persuasively about the importance of opera in general and Arizona Opera in particular.
The successful candidate will have a deep commitment to the highest possible artistic standards in all aspects of the Company’s work. The candidate will have the demonstrated ability to work effectively with artistic leadership to achieve mutually held artistic goals. The candidate will have successful experience working with professional musicians in a collective bargaining environment. Experience overseeing an effective young artists program will be an asset.
The successful candidate will have a vision for future of American opera and a personal desire to help move the art form forward in the decades ahead. The candidate will be creative, curious, and imaginative. The candidate will be kind and generous in spirit. The successful candidate will be a person of integrity and high ethical standards with a strong commitment to transparency in all aspects of the work.
The successful candidate will welcome the opportunity to make a home in Arizona, become an active full -time participant in the life of the communities of greater Phoenix and Tucson, and realize Arizona Opera’s vision to bring opera to audiences throughout the state.
Compensation
The salary range for this position is $180,000 to $200,000 per year, depending on qualifications and experience. Arizona Opera offers a competitive benefits package as well.
Applications
Arizona Opera welcomes recommendations, nominations, and applications from all qualified candidates regardless of race, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, disability, religion, ethnicity, or national origin.
Applicants are asked to submit a cover letter that describes specific interest in Arizona Opera and outlines experience and qualifications for the position as described in the candidate profile. Please send this letter with a resumé. On a separate sheet, please also include the names and contact information for several professional references. All applications will be treated as confidential and references will not be contacted without the applicant’s knowledge and agreement. Electronic submissions are requested.
The position will remain open until filled; the Transition Committee will begin to review credentials in late February.
Arizona Opera
c/o Catherine French Group
2500 Q Street NW, Suite 623
Washington, DC 20007
applications@catherinefrenchgroup.com(Adobe Acrobat PDF attachments only, please)
- Wales’ National Museum Closes Indefinitely For Repairs
The closure comes nine months after Wales’ Culture Secretary assured the historic building would remain open, despite concerns from the museum’s director over its deteriorating condition. – BBC
- A Cantonese Opera About Donald Trump
A Hong Kong troupe specializing in the traditional form (a sort of cousin to the better-known Beijing opera) has produced a modern-dress piece based on the 2024 election, with Trump and Kamala Harris singing in Cantonese — and it’s a hit. – AP
- Streaming Companies Will Outspend Commercial Broadcasters This Year For The First Time
Of that figure, Ampere claims that streaming services will spending $95 billion on content this year, a 39% share, while commercial broadcasters will comprise 37%. The rest of the spend will be made up by public broadcasters (9%), theatrical studios (8%) and pay-TV (7%). – Variety
THEATRE
VISUAL
- The “Socratic Method” Rather Misses The Point
Such attempts to mimic him miss the point, which is that true thinking should be dangerous to your intellectual equilibrium. It should strive for answers that overthrow the terms of the questions being asked, not simply prove a point. – The New Republic
- What Kind Of Los Angeles Will Now Arise?
“Time and again, fires have fast-tracked urban change. London after the Great Fire of 1666 rewrote its safety laws, widened streets and erected new public buildings, like the domed St. Paul’s Cathedral. Chicago after the Great Fire of 1871 … invented the modern American metropolis.” – The New York Times
- The Los Angeles Poets, Students, And Others Who Helped Out After The Fires
“In front of Sam’s tool crib, where workers got outfitted with gloves, goggles, hand tools, and helmets, I bumped into Rocio Carlos. … She said that due to the fires, her classes at ArtCenter College of Design had all been moved online.” – Los Angeles Review of Books
- Embracing The Analog
“In modern reality, most media are streamed, digitized, and easily vaporized; not so much owned as leased; pockmarked with ads and often tweaked (or falsified) via AI. In modern fiction, meanwhile, vintage media have emerged as tactile objects that symbolize integrity.” – The Atlantic
- We’ve Been Obsessing On The End Of The World Since Time Began
Apparently, we’ve been thinking about wholesale termination at least since about 1800 B.C., the date ascribed to the myth of Atrahasis, a Mesopotamian creation story that predates Biblical writings by several hundred years and features a world-cleansing flood. – The New Yorker