Arizona Opera is staging a one-hour, Spanish-language opera based on the classic fairy tale of a clever, boot-wearing cat this weekend in Tucson, marking the company's first-ever performance of the work. El Gato con Botas, composed by Xavier Montsalvatge with a libretto by Néstor Luján, runs Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. at Leo Rich Theater, 260 S. Church Ave.
A Rare Chamber Opera Rooted in Perrault's Tale
The opera is based on Charles Perrault's classic tale and premiered in Barcelona in 1948, according to reporting from the Arizona Daily Star. Arizona Opera describes it as a one-act opera by the Spanish composer, with a libretto by Luján drawn from the fairy tale, according to azopera.org. The company is billing this production as the only one happening anywhere in North America during the 2026-27 season, per Opera America, as reported by the Arizona Daily Star.
At roughly an hour with no intermission, the piece is compact by opera standards. It's performed in Spanish, with English and Spanish supertitles provided for the audience, the company's performance page notes. This marks the second of four productions in Arizona Opera's current season, the Arizona Daily Star reports.
The Entire Studio Takes the Stage
What sets this production apart is its casting: the show features the company's entire Marion Roose Pullin Arizona Opera Studio roster, according to azopera.org. Rosario Armas sings the title role of El Gato, with Cameron Howard as the Miller, Jason Edelstein as the King, José Oliváres as the Ogre, and Francesca Herrera as the Princess, the company announced in its casting release. Sydney Roslin directs, with piano accompaniment and musical direction from Guzal Isametdinova.
Behind the scenes, Nathaniel White serves as stage lighting specialist and Delaney Welch as costume designer, according to the Arizona Daily Star's reporting. The full-studio format gives the young-artist program a showcase built entirely around its own singers rather than pairing them with principal guest artists.
A Studio Program Rebuilding After Cuts
The timing carries some extra weight for the studio itself. The Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio has returned to full capacity this season after budget cuts downsized the program for the previous two seasons, the Arizona Daily Star reports. Arizona Opera's own season announcement frames the shift more generally, noting the studio is returning to a full season-long program after operating as a half-season program for the past two years.
Tickets for the Tucson performances run from $40 to $150, according to the Arizona Daily Star. For comparison, a separate staging of the same opera listed on Rider University's event page for its Westminster Opera Theatre production prices tickets at $25 for adults, $20 for students and seniors, and $5 for Rider students with valid ID — though that page states no dates or times are currently scheduled for its own performance.
