Arizona Opera goes to Hollywood in action-packed Riders of the Purple Sage
The Republic
"Bohmler's cinematic score also has a very contemporary energy, with flashing violins of the sort that build excitement in the latest “Star Wars” flick. This engaging production is built on sturdy bones: iconic hero-and-villain characters, a suspenseful story and a score that’s studded with soaring, hummable melodies..."
Historic premiere: Riders puts Arizona Opera in different league
Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Opera made history Saturday night with "Riders of the Purple Sage," its first world premiere of its first ever commissioned opera. It now has a seat at the big-boys' table among companies three, four times its size in opera-friendly cities like Chicago and New York.
Companies the size of Arizona, which mounts productions in Tucson and Phoenix, don't normally put themselves on the shaky limb of "new works." It's a risky, expensive venture. But at the big boys table, taking a chance is the price of admission, and on Saturday night, with some 1,400 people in the audience, Arizona Opera took that challenge with "Riders of the Purple Sage" — and it paid off.
Riders of the Purple Sage is Arizona Opera's first-ever world premiere
The Republic
“Riders of the Purple Sage” is composer Craig Bohmler’s bid to create the first great American Western opera. If it is remains to be seen. But no matter what, “Riders” — based on the classic novel by Zane Grey — is a giant leap forward for Arizona Opera: the first-ever world premiere in the company’s 45-year history.
Arizona Opera set to make history with first Western production
Arizona Daily Star
Arizona Opera is making history this weekend that will go far beyond Tucson Music Hall and Phoenix Symphony Center. The company will mount what is being billed as the first-ever Western opera, a piece the company commissioned based on Zane Grey’s seminal novel “Riders of the Purple Sage.” It is the first time in the company’s 45-year history that it has commissioned a new work and performed a world premiere.
Arizona blends cowboys and opera
Top 10 Unmissable Arts Events in Phoenix
'Purple Sage' world premiere tops Arizona Opera's 2016-17 season
The Republic
'Purple Sage' world premiere tops Arizona Opera's 2016-17 season. A mark-your-calendar alert for opera buffs and fans of classic Westerns alike: Arizona Opera’s first world premiere, an adaptation of the Zane Grey novel “Riders of the Purple Sage,” tops the list of productions for the company’s just-announced 2016-17 season.