Award-winning singer takes lead role in Phoenix Opera's 'Carmen'

Arnold Rutkowski, who recently won the Prize CulturArte at Operalia,  the World Opera Competition in Budapest, has been tapped for the leading role of Don Jose in the Phoenix Opera's Nov. 6 and 8 presentation of “Carmen.”

The competition was started by famed tenor Placido Domingo in 1993 for performers from ages 18 to 30 and typically sees 800 to 1,000 applications.
Phoenix Opera General Director John Massaro said Rutkowski has “one of the most beautiful voices” he has ever heard.

Rutkowski graduated from the Lodz Conservatory in Poland in 2005 and from 2002 to 2008 sang numerous roles at major opera houses in Europe. In June, he performed with Domingo at the Opera House in Lodz.

His performances in Phoenix will mark the opening of the local opera company’s third season. “Madama Butterfly” will be the season’s second opera Feb. 12 and 14.

Hungarian soprano Viktoria Vizin, who has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, will sing the role of Carmen with Rutkowski. The work by Georges Bizet is one of the world’s most popular operas telling the story of the gypsy Carmen and her passion for a Spanish soldier, Don Jose.