Free Opera-tunities! The Santa Fe Opera presents Opening Nights Radio Broadcasts of the 2026 Season throughout August, “Opera at the Railyard” on July 23 and “Opera in the Park” on September 19
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Santa Fe, NM — The Santa Fe Opera is pleased to announce three free community offerings to complement the 2026 Season: SFO Opening Nights on KHFM Radio Broadcasts airing on Mondays throughout August; an “Opera at the Railyard” concert featuring the Apprentice Singers on July 23; and the return of its “Opera in the Park” events with a screening of The Magic Flute on September 19.
Santa Fe Opera Opening Nights on KHFM
The Santa Fe Opera and 95.5 KHFM Classical Public Radio present free, live-recorded radio broadcasts of the opera’s 2026 Season opening nights. Listeners in communities throughout New Mexico, nationally and internationally can enjoy music from the Santa Fe Opera from the comfort of their homes, vehicles and streaming devices. Following each air date, broadcasts are available for free, on-demand streaming on the santafeopera.org and khfm.org websites for 30 days.
To listen, tune in to 95.5 KHFM Classical Public Radio or stream online at khfm.org at 6:00 pm MDT on August 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. Each broadcast features opening night performances recorded live from The Crosby Theatre: Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mozart’s The Magic Flute, Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, Handel’s Rodelinda and Tobias Picker’s Lili Elbe. Soprano, educator and KHFM host Kathlene Ritch serves as host and provides insight into each opera’s history, story and artists.
Broadcast Schedule
August 3 at 6:00 pm MDT, Madama Butterfly
August 10 at 6:00 pm MDT, The Magic Flute
August 17 at 6:00 pm MDT, Eugene Onegin
August 24 at 6:00 pm MDT, Rodelinda
August 31 at 6:00 pm MDT, Lili Elbe
How to Listen
Radio
Albuquerque, Santa Fe and nearby communities: 95.5 KHFM
Roswell: 103.1 FM
Taos: 106.3 FM
Ruidoso: 95.9 FM
Online
Stream the broadcasts via a computer or mobile device at khfm.org, and enjoy free, on-demand streaming for 30 days following each air date at santafeopera.org and khfm.org.
The Santa Fe Opera Opening Nights on KHFM radio broadcasts are co-produced by KHFM on-air host Brent Stevens and Santa Fe Opera Director of Media & Public Relations Emily Doyle Moore, with live recordings engineered and mixed by Kabby Sound Studios. These broadcasts are made possible by the James R. Seitz, Jr. Fund for Broadcasting.
The Santa Fe Opera Opening Night Ticket Giveaway
In partnership with KHFM, the Santa Fe Opera is giving away a pair of tickets to each of the Opening Nights in the 2026 Season! Winners will tailgate and attend the performance with one of the KHFM on-air hosts.
Opening Nights Tailgate and Ticket Giveaway Schedule
Friday, July 3: Madama Butterfly with Alexis Corbin
Saturday, July 4: The Magic Flute with Tanya Cole
Saturday, July 18: Eugene Onegin with Kathlene Ritch
Saturday, July 25: Rodelinda with Brent Stevens
Saturday, August 1: Lili Elbe with David Sinkus
To enter for a free chance to win, visit the Santa Fe Opera website at santafeopera.org or 95.5 KHFM Classical Public Radio at khfm.org. Void where prohibited; see the entry form for full terms and conditions.
Opera at the Railyard
The Santa Fe Opera joins the free summer concert series at the Railyard in Santa Fe. Join us on July 23 at 7:00 pm for a free live concert featuring members of the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers performing arias and scenes from popular operas. Presenting sponsor Hutton Broadcasting will be on-site with a tent providing free Coca-Cola products. After the concert, head over to As Above, So Below distillery & bar for an afterparty, featuring a “Queen of the Night” cocktail!
For Calendar Keepers
What: “Opera at the Railyard” concert featuring members of the Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Program for Singers
When: Thursday, July 23, 7 pm
Where: The Santa Fe Railyard under the water tower, Alcaldesa St., Santa Fe, NM
How: FREE to attend with no reservation required
Opera in the Park
In celebration of the Santa Fe Opera’s 69th Festival Season, the opera invites opera fans and newcomers alike to gather together and enjoy a screening of The Magic Flute at the Railyard Park in Santa Fe on September 19 at 6 pm. The Santa Fe Opera presents Opera in the Park with support from the Kirkpatrick Foundation, Presenting Sponsor, and the Hankins Foundation, Principal Education Sponsor.
Brian Weed directs the video recording with support from assistant director Nathan Troup and post-production by Cut Print Video Production; Kabby Sound Studios provides the audio engineering. Artist appearances are made possible through the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Musicians, Local 618.
For Calendar Keepers
What: Opera in the Park: a free screening of The Magic Flute presented by the Santa Fe Opera
When: Saturday, September 19
Where: Railyard Park, 740 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Lawn Opens: 5:00 pm; Performance Begins: 6 pm
Run Time: Approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes with no intermission
Contact: Koppany Pusztai, Manager of Programs and Partnerships | kpusztai@santafeopera.org
About The Magic Flute
Imagine a magic flute that can tame the wildest of beasts. Can Prince Tamino and Papageno use it to save the princess? They embark on a fantastical quest through the elements, and along the way, they encounter enchanting characters and face daring trials.
The Santa Fe Opera’s enchanting new production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute is a co-production with Garsington Opera and directed by Christopher Luscombe in his company debut and conducted by Santa Fe Opera Music Director Harry Bicket.
Inspired by Edwardian pantomime, this new production merges spectacle with storytelling to create an immersive experience for audiences of all ages. Scenic designer Simon Higlett crafts a world of trompe-l’œil scenery, evoking Victorian music halls, while lighting by Philip Rosenberg and illusions by Chris Fisher heighten the magic with stunning stage effects. Costume Designer Robert Perdziola blends early 19th-century silhouettes with theatrical flourishes, reflecting the opera’s blend of fantasy and adventure. David Zimmerman and Andrew Kenneth Moss return for the season as Wig and Makeup Designer and Fight and Intimacy Director, respectively. Susanne Sheston serves as Chorus Director.
Making company debuts are Josh Lovell as Tamino, Joélle Harvey as Pamina, Jeni Houser as the Queen of the Night and Alexander Köpeczi as Sarastro. Several former Apprentice Singers return, including Will Liverman as Papageno, with Apprentice Singer Jazmine Saunders as Papagena, Spencer Hamlin as Monostatos and Le Bu as the Speaker. Apprentices also returning include Jasmin Ward as First Lady, Deanna Ray Eberhart as Second Lady, Lauren Randolph as Third Lady, Will Ryan as Second Priest, and Matthew Goodheart as First Armored Man. Making Santa Fe Opera debuts are Dominic Salvati in the role of First Priest, Dani Jingdan Zhang as First Boy, Sabrina Langlois as Second Boy, Natalie Corrigan as Third Boy and Sunghoon Han as Second Armored Man. A new English translation by Jeremy Sams brings immediacy and humor to the performances.
The Magic Flute
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder
Premiered September 30, 1791, Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, Vienna, Austria
Co-production with Garsington Opera
English Translation by Jeremy Sams used by arrangement with Josef Weinberger Limited
8 performances — July 4, 10, 15; August 4, 13, 22, 25 & 28, 2026
Singing and dialogue in English with opera titles in English and Spanish
Approximately 3 hours; includes a 25-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by
The Avenir Production Fund
The Tobin Endowment
The Robert & Ellen Vladem Perpetual Fund for Opera Production
Additional artistic support provided by
Gene & Jean Stark
The engagement of Christopher Luscombe is supported by
Gina Browning & Joe Illick
The engagement of Simon Higlett is supported by
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
The performances of Joélle Harvey are supported by
The Marcella Fund
The performances of Jeni Houser are supported by
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The performances of Will Liverman are supported by
Marianne S. Kah
Creative Team
Conductor Harry Bicket
Director Christopher Luscombe*
Scenic Design Simon Higlett*
Costume Design Robert Perdziola
Lighting Design Philip Rosenberg*
Wig and Makeup Design David Zimmerman
Illusions Chris Fisher*
Chorus Director Susanne Sheston
Fight & Intimacy Direction Andrew Kenneth Moss
Cast
Tamino Josh Lovell*
Pamina Joélle Harvey*
The Queen of the Night Jeni Houser*
Sarastro Alexander Köpeczi*
Papageno Will Liverman+
Monostatos Spencer Hamlin+
Speaker Le Bu+
First Lady Jasmin Ward^
Second Lady Deanna Ray Eberhart^
Third Lady Lauren Randolph^
Papagena Jazmine Saunders^
First Priest Dominic Salvati^*
Second Priest Will Ryan^
First Boy Dani Jingdan Zhang^*
Second Boy Sabrina Langlois^*
Third Boy Natalie Corrigan^*
First Armored Man Matthew Goodheart^
Second Armored Man Sunghoon Han^*
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra & Chorus
*Santa Fe Opera Debut, ^Current Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
About the 2026 Season
In 2026, the Santa Fe Opera presents a lineup of classic, rarely performed and new works. The 69th Festival Season features 38 performances of two new productions, two celebrated revivals and an American premiere. An homage to the company’s first-ever performance in 1957, Opening Weekend takes flight on July 3 with Lee Blakeley’s acclaimed production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, revived by Melanie Bacaling. Next, on July 4, is a new international co-production with Garsington Opera of Mozart’s The Magic Flute directed by Christopher Luscombe. Centering the season from July 18 is a revival of Alessandro Talevi’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, originally presented during the opera’s 2021 Season. On July 25, Handel’s Rodelinda is offered for the first time at the Santa Fe Opera, led by Santa Fe Opera Music Director and early music specialist Harry Bicket with direction by R.B. Schlather. Finally, on August 1, the Santa Fe Opera presents the American premiere of Lili Elbe, an opera in two acts by Grammy-winning composer Tobias Picker and librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman, featuring former Apprentice singer Lucia Lucas in the title role.
Says General Director Robert K. Meya, “As we celebrate the Santa Fe Opera’s 69th Season, we honor a legacy built on bold creativity, artistic excellence and a spirit of discovery that has defined our company. 2026 offers audiences a confection of beloved classics, rarely heard masterpieces and thrilling new works, culminating in our 46th American premiere: Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman’s Lili Elbe. This significant premiere reaffirms our enduring commitment to presenting works that speak to our time and illuminate the future of our art form.”
First-time visitors and long-time patrons can also look forward to offerings evocative of the singular Santa Fe Opera experience, including tailgating, Preview Dinners, Tours, free Prelude Talks and much more. Individual tickets and subscriptions are on sale now at santafeopera.org.
About The Santa Fe Opera – Recognized in 2022 as “Festival of the Year” at the International Opera Awards, the Santa Fe Opera annually draws 70,000 people from New Mexico and around the globe. Nestled atop a mountain vista in northern New Mexico, the company’s iconic Crosby Theatre is open on three sides, allowing visitors to enjoy performances complemented by the elements. Since 1957 the company has presented over 2,000 performances of 180 operas by 92 composers spanning five centuries of opera, creating a legacy of 45 American premieres and 19 world premieres.
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility at the Santa Fe Opera – Opera has the power to speak truth, broaden perspectives and invite empathy. The Santa Fe Opera is committed to the continuous work of becoming an antiracist and anti-oppressive organization and incorporating the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. Our goal is to create a joyful and engaging environment in which a diverse community of artists, staff, volunteers and audiences alike belong.
The mission of the Santa Fe Opera is to advance the operatic art form by presenting ensemble performances of the highest quality in a unique setting with a varied repertory of new, rarely performed and standard works; to ensure the excellence of opera’s future through apprentice programs for singers, technicians and arts administrators; and to foster an understanding and appreciation of opera among a diverse public.
Discover More: SantaFeOpera.org
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