Z_mire et Azor, a rarely seen 1771 version of the Beauty and the Beast story, is a co-production with Opera Theatre of St. Louis, which presented its U.S. premiere in St. Louis last year. Arizona Opera's production, which runs March 3-11, 2007, will star soprano Monica Yunus and tenor John McVeigh. Renaud Doucet directs; Andr_ Barbe is the designer; Jeannette Sorrell conducts.

Susannah (April 19-29, 2007) will be seen in a Hawaii Opera Theatre production designed by Peter Dean Beck. Arizona Opera music director Joel Revzen conducts; Diane Alexander sings the title role.

Other singers scheduled to appear with the company include famed baritone Thomas Allen, who will sing his signature role of Almaviva in Figaro.

Arizona Opera performs at Symphony Hall in Phoenix and Tucson Music Hall in Tucson. For more information, visit www.azopera.com.