Press Release From Arizona Opera

TUCSON (September 17, 2007) – Arizona Opera opens its 37th season on Saturday, October 6 at 7:30 p.m. with Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic Lucia di Lammermoor. The production stars sopranos Tracy Dahl and Laura Whalen who alternate the title role of the doomed “Lucia.” Dahl, a noted exponent of the title role, which is widely regarded as one of the most challenging in the entire soprano repertoire, was last seen in another bel-canto opera by Donizetti, the 2003-2004 production of Don Pasquale. Ms. Whalen is making her Arizona Opera debut. Mark Panuccio and Robert Breault alternate in the role of Lucia’s ill fated lover, “Edgardo.” Breault returns to Arizona Opera after his critically hailed performance as “Sam Polk” in last season’s production of Susannah and up and coming, Panuccio makes his Arizona Opera debut.