The Santa Fe Opera Issues 2022 Season Updates
The Santa Fe Opera Issues Casting Updates, Announces its 47 Apprentice Singers and Confirms the Return of Visitor Activities for the 2022 Season Opening on July 1
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***June 9, 2022: Press Release amended to reflect that American tenor Matthew White will sing Don José in Carmen, replacing Bryan Hymel who has withdrawn for personal reasons.***
Santa Fe, NM — With great anticipation for the 2022 Season opening on July 1, the Santa Fe Opera is pleased to announce casting updates, name its 47 Apprentice Singers and confirm the return of popular visitor activities including Prelude Talks, Preview Dinners, Shuttles, Opera House & Ranch Tours and Family Nights and discounted day-of tickets for seniors, students and military personnel. The opera continues to offer first-time New Mexico ticket buyers 40% off.
The 2022 Season celebrates a world premiere and offers fresh twists on beloved classics by Bizet, Rossini, Verdi and Wagner. Some of today’s most exciting talent is featured singing in four languages — English, French, German and Italian — instantly translated into English and Spanish on the seat-back title system. Says General Director Robert K. Meya, “I hold great hope for a return to normalcy this summer. There will be humor, tragedy, boundless tales of love and something entirely new. There’s truly a show for everyone.”
The Santa Fe Opera continues in its commitment to protecting the health and safety of its staff, artists and audiences. Meya adds, “All audience members are encouraged to wear a mask and to check the opera’s dedicated Health and Safety webpage for the latest protocols before visiting.” The company is monitoring the current wildfire situation and air quality at the theater. Should smoke levels in the air become unhealthy or unsafe, rehearsal and performance plans will be adjusted to protect the well-being of patrons, artists and staff. If wildfires or wildfire smoke reach a level of severity that will impact visitor activities to the Santa Fe Opera, the Box Office will contact those affected as soon as possible to discuss ticket options. For more information on fires in New Mexico, please visit NM Fire Info.
Tickets and subscriptions for the 2022 Season are on sale now. To purchase tickets or learn more, visit santafeopera.org or call the Box Office at 505-986-5900 between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm MDT Monday through Saturday. Beginning July 1, in-person purchases will be available on all performance evenings through the first intermission. Performance start times are as follows: July 1 — July 30, 8:30 pm; August 1 — August 27, 8:00 pm. All performances of Tristan und Isolde begin at 8:00 pm. Parking lots open 3 hours before each performance.
Casting Updates
Carmen: Tenor Matthew White will make his company debut as Don José, replacing Bryan Hymel. Apprentice singer Luke Sutliff will sing Dancaïre; Apprentice singer Anthony León will sing Remendado; Apprentice singer Darren Lekeith Drone will sing Moralès; Apprentice singer Magdalena Kuźma will sing Frasquita; Apprentice singer Kathleen Felty will sing Mercédès; Omen Thomas Sade will sing Lillas Pastia; father and son team Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet will serve as Fight and Intimacy Directors.
The Barber of Seville: Apprentice singer Nicholas Newton will sing Don Basilio July 2-13 and August 26; Apprentice singer Murrella Parton will sing Berta; Apprentice singer Kyle Miller will sing Fiorello; Apprentice singer Allen Michael Jones will sing the Officer; Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet will serve as Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Falstaff: Tenor Brian Frutiger will sing Doctor Caius; Apprentice singer Thomas Cilluffo will sing Bardolfo; Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet will serve as Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Tristan und Isolde: Apprentice singer Dylan M. Davis will sing the Shepherd; Apprentice singer Jonah Hoskins will sing the Sailor; Apprentice singer Eric Taylor will sing Melot; Apprentice singer Erik Grendahl will sing the Steersman; Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet will serve as Fight and Intimacy Directors.
M. Butterfly 蝴蝶君: Apprentice singer Lucy Evans will sing the role of Agent 1; Apprentice singer Andrew Turner will sing the role of Agent 2; Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet will serve as Intimacy Directors.
47 Apprentice Singers Featured in the 2022 Season
A record-setting forty-seven singers from across the United States, Canada, China, Haiti, Japan, Korea and Venezuela have been selected this season from a pool of over 800 exciting young talents. Says Program Director Gayletha Nichols, “A big, exciting season awaits! Due to its significant programming, we have more performance opportunities than ever before for young singers. Our focus remains on balancing these opportunities with individualized training, which has long been a core value of the program. I look forward to hearing how beautifully the class of 2022 takes to the vocal riches of Bizet, Wagner, Verdi and more.”
Established at the time of the Santa Fe Opera’s 1957 founding, the Apprentice Program for Singers has since provided training, performance opportunities and international exposure to young singers transitioning from academic to professional life. The first of its kind in America, more than 1,500 aspiring singers have since participated in the internationally recognized program. Former singing apprentices have continued on to successful careers as professional performers and include Joyce DiDonato, Michael Fabiano, John Holiday and many more; others are now teachers, coaches and administrators at major opera companies and universities.
Each year, the Apprentice Scenes showcase the remarkable talent of Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singers and Technicians on two consecutive Sunday evenings — this season on August 14 and 21, 2022 at 8:00 pm. One of the best entertainment values of the summer at $15 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 6-22), purchases can be made at santafeopera.org or by calling the Box Office at 505-986-5900 (toll-free at 800-280-4654) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm MDT Monday through Saturday.
2022 Apprentice Singer Class
SOPRANO
Caitlin Aloia Doylestown, PA; Avery Boettcher Appleton, WI; Caroline Corrales St. Louis, MO; Vanessa Croome Nanaimo, BC, Canada; Magdalena Kuźma New York, NY; Amanda Olea San Diego, CA; Murrella Parton Seymour, TN; Teresa Perrotta* Orlando, FL; Ardeen Pierre* Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Emily Richter Arlington, VA; Emilie Kealani Suarez San Francisco, CA
MEZZO-SOPRANO
Amanda Lynn Bottoms* Buffalo, NY; Ashlyn Brown Palm Springs, CA; Maire Therese Carmack Bainbridge Island, WA;
Lucy Evans Bellingham, WA; Kathleen Felty* Lubbock, TX; Gretchen Krupp Woodbridge, VA; Sophia Maekawa Kyoto, Japan; Gloria Palermo Cocoa, FL; Sarah Saturnino* Grass Valley, CA
CONTRALTO
Lauren Decker Milwaukee, WI; Megan Esther Grey Cedar Falls, IA
TENOR
Thomas Cilluffo* Traverse City, MI; Dylan M. Davis Marion, OH; Jonah Hoskins* Saratoga Springs, UT; Anthony León* Riverside, CA; Philippe L’Esperance Grafton, MA; Kameron Lopreore New Orleans, LA; Jordan Loyd Cincinnati, OH; Daniel O’Hearn* Chicago, IL; Kevin Punnackal* Houston, TX; Eric Taylor* St. George, UT; Andrew Turner Tacoma, WA; Tianchi Zhang Huainan, China
BARITONE & BASS
Peter Barber Crozet, VA; Ben Brady Denver, CO; Justin Burgess South Lyon, IN; Darren Lekeith Drone* Sherwood, AR; Erik Grendahl Boydton, VA; Jongwon Han Seoul, Korea; Allen Michael Jones* Atlanta, GA; Kyle Miller San Francisco, CA; Nicholas Newton San Diego, CA; Sejin Park Seoul, Korea; Joseph Parrish Baltimore, MD; Luke Sutliff* Denver, CO; Griffen Hogan Tracy Golden, CO
*Second-year Apprentice singer
Visitor Activities & Enhancements
The Santa Fe Opera is pleased to announce the return of popular visitor activities and enhancements including Prelude Talks, Preview Dinners, Shuttles, Tours, Family Nights and more. Visitors must adhere to the opera’s current COVID-19 protocols and are encouraged to check the dedicated Health and Safety webpage for the latest information. To learn more about this year’s programs, visit santafeopera.org or call the Box Office at 505-986-5900 (toll-free at 800-280-4654) between 9:00 am and 5:00 pm MDT Monday through Saturday.
Family Nights
Family Nights are designated performance evenings that make attending the opera a more affordable experience for all. Tickets for youth, ages 6 to 22 years, are $15; accompanying adult tickets are $30 each for the first two adults and $50 for any additional adult. Visit Family Nights to view dates and learn more.
Opening Night Dinners
Join members of the creative team and other special guests at the Santa Fe Opera for cocktails and a special three-course dinner curated by Jose Fernandez, Executive Chef at The Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. Tickets are $275 per person per dinner. Performance tickets are not included. Visit Special Events to purchase or learn more.
Opera House Tours
Free, docent-led Opera House Tours allow visitors to experience the unparalleled beauty of the Santa Fe Opera’s unique architecture and natural, open-air setting. Participants will also hear about its history and the 2022 Festival Season. The 30-minute tours take place on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 9:00 am and 9:10 am during June, July and August. Availability is limited and online registration is required no later than 24 hours in advance. Visit Tours to learn more and make a reservation.
Opera Ranch Tours
A free, extended tour of the grounds known as the “Opera Ranch,” begins at the Box Office at 3:00 pm on the following Fridays: June 10, 24; July 8, 22; August 12, 26, 2022. Availability is limited and online registration is required no later than 24 hours in advance. Visit Tours to learn more and make a reservation.
Prelude Talks
Free for ticket holders, Prelude Talks offer a road map of the evening’s performance. Held in Stieren Orchestra Hall two hours and one hour before most performances, these popular talks are presented by opera educator Oliver Prezant. As availability is limited, online registration is required no later than 24 hours in advance. Please note that Prelude Talks are not offered on July 1, August 14 and 21, 2022. Visit Talks to register or learn more.
Preview Dinners
Enjoy an opera-themed buffet dinner at the opera’s open-air cantina amid beautifully landscaped grounds. A speaker will offer a brief introduction to the evening’s opera, providing insight and context. At $70 a person, a Preview Dinner is a great way to kick off a night at the opera. Wine will be available for purchase by the glass or bottle. Preview Dinner purchases must be made by 3:00 pm no later than 5 days in advance of the desired dinner date. Visit Dining to purchase or learn more.
Santa Fe Shuttle
Book a comfortable round-trip ride from Santa Fe arriving approximately 25 minutes prior to performance time. Availability is limited and online registration is required no later than 24 hours in advance. Please be at your designated location at least 5 minutes before your scheduled departure. Visit Shuttles to book or learn more.
Tailgate Picnics
Experience the fun of a Santa Fe Opera tradition. Bring your own or enjoy a range of Sampler Tailgate Boxes and Dinner Tailgate Boxes. Tailgate Picnics must be ordered by 3:00 pm two days in advance. Due to seasonality of fresh ingredients, menus vary slightly. Seating availability on Twomey Terrace (adjacent to the Box Office) is limited and non-reserved. Tailgate picnics are prepared and presented by Masterpiece Cuisine.
THE 2022 SEASON
The Santa Fe Opera previously announced details of the 2022 Season on November 4, 2021. Running from July 1 through August 27, the 65th Festival Season presents 38 performances and five new productions. The ambitious season includes the company’s 18th world premiere M. Butterfly by composer Huang Ruo, librettist David Henry Hwang and directed by James Robinson; the company premiere of Wagner’s masterpiece Tristan und Isolde co-directed by Zack Winokur and Lisenka Heijboer Castañón; a poignant retelling of Bizet’s Carmen by Mariame Clément; Verdi’s comic final opera Falstaff in a co-production with Scottish Opera by Sir David McVicar; Stephen Barlow’s inventive take on Rossini’s most popular opera The Barber of Seville; and two Apprentice Scenes featuring the opera’s talented singing and technical apprentices.
CARMEN
The cards are not in her favor.
Bizet’s most popular opera, Carmen, opens the season on July 1 in a retelling by French director Mariame Clément in her company debut. Colorful sets and costumes by German designer Julia Hansen, choreography by Mathieu Guilhaumon and lighting by internationally recognized designer Duane Schuler bring this tragic tale to life. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet serve as Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Santa Fe Opera Music Director Harry Bicket leads a talented cast that includes three-time Grammy Award-winning mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard as the defiant Carmen opposite tenors Matthew White in his company debut and Michael Fabiano who share the role of Don José. Bass-baritone Michael Sumuel makes his company debut as the toreador, Escamillo. Soprano and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singer Sylvia D’Eramo makes her company debut as Micaëla and bass David Crawford sings Zuniga in his company debut. The Chorus Master is Susanne Sheston.
Carmen was written for the Opéra-Comique and premiered in 1875. But with its unrestrained sexuality, immoral characters and onstage murder, Carmen shocked the Parisian audience, who met the world premiere not with boos or jeers, but with deadly silence. The reviews ranged from disappointed to horrified. Despite its disastrous opening run, critics nonetheless recognized Bizet’s undeniable talent — the music of Carmen brilliantly communicates its character’s emotional and psychological states, sometimes subtly and sometimes directly and forcefully. Clément admits that Carmen is intimidating, noting, “The usual preconception is that it’s a joyful, colorful piece, but it’s actually a very dark piece in many respects.” The general setting for the action will be what looks like an amusement park. As Clément puts it, “…it’s a mental landscape for Carmen, or a metaphor of her life. You always hear that Carmen is free and the piece is a celebration of freedom. I beg to differ. Yes, she’s free to die in the end. So, it’s a very limited kind of freedom, an illusion of freedom, just like the freedom you experience within the gates of an amusement park.” She adds, “Another essential idea in our conception was a little girl who would be a recurring character, especially in the Overture and the interludes. Perhaps a young Carmen, or a little girl from her community of travelers… A little girl who we hope could break the cycle of violence Carmen is caught in.”
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Figaro here, Figaro there, Figaro everywhere!
The 2022 Season continues on July 2 with Rossini’s most popular comedy, The Barber of Seville, in a new production whose playful energy springs directly from his ebullient music. In Stephen Barlow’s witty interpretation, Seville and Santa Fe meet and merge in a sunny and whimsical world where anything can happen. The familiar sunbaked colors of southern Spain meld seamlessly with Santa Fe Opera’s beloved and unique natural backdrop, and a clever revolving stage adds a multiplicity of possible locales to the usual interior and exterior settings of this opera. Designer Andrew D. Edwards’s elegant and colorful costumes based on 18th-century period clothing freely embrace fantasy and Mitchell Harper’s choreography surprises at every turn in this charming production illuminated by lighting designer Chris Akerlind. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet are the Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Mexican conductor Iván López-Reynoso makes his American debut and company debut leading eight performances with an exciting cast that includes Santa Fe Opera audience favorite Joshua Hopkins as the resourceful Figaro and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singers Emily Fons and Jack Swanson who will dazzle as Rosina and Count Almaviva. Bass Ryan Speedo Green makes his company debut as Don Basilio and bass Kevin Burdette sings the role of Doctor Bartolo. Susanne Sheston is the Chorus Master.
Based on Le Barbier de Séville (1775), the first play of the ‘Figaro Trilogy’ by the French Revolutionary-era author Pierre Caron de Beaumarchais, Rossini’s opera traces the efforts of clever Figaro to win for his master Count Almaviva his chosen bride, Rosina. Rossini himself was a delicate balance of 18th-century craftsman and 19th-century trailblazer and with Barber he created an opera whose modesty belies its mastery, a structure buttressed by the most sophisticated musical dramaturgy but whose facade is sheer fun.
FALSTAFF
All the world’s a joke and only the jolly are wise.
Opening July 16 is Verdi’s comedic opera Falstaff in an exciting co-production with Scottish Opera. Sir David McVicar’s production plays as classic Shakespearean humor in the form of disguise and trickery. McVicar’s unit set is a wooden structure that includes a galleried upper level linked by side stairs, harkening back to theaters of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. True to the period, excessive decoration is avoided, and everything is kept as simple and functional as possible. Audiences can expect costumes that are a kaleidoscope of fabrics featuring richly colored silks, magnificent brocades, period ruffs, fur trimmings and black leather — truly a feast for the eyes. While the garments are in keeping with the period, McVicar has drawn inspiration from the paintings of some of art’s great masters, including Rembrandt, Vermeer and Botticelli. The third act set in Windsor Park showcases the entire cast in masquerade including a cavalcade of witches, elves and even the Fairy Queen herself. The Scotsman wrote, “There’s never a moment in this hurtling production where the eye is bored.” McVicar is joined by lighting designer Lizzie Powell and choreographer Andrew George, both making their Santa Fe Opera debuts. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet are the Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Maestro Paul Daniel CBE leads a talented ensemble headlined by baritone Quinn Kelsey in the title role. Joining him are Alexandra LoBianco and Elena Villalón in their company debuts as Alice and Nannetta, former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singers Ann McMahon Quintero and Eric Ferring in their company debuts as Mistress Quickly and Fenton and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singer Megan Marino as Meg Page. Roland Wood is Ford, Brian Frutiger is Doctor Caius and second-year apprentice singer Thomas Cilluffo sings Bardolfo. Susanne Sheston serves as the Chorus Master.
Falstaff is Verdi’s final opera, composed at the age of 80, five years prior to his death in 1901. He lovingly referred to his composition as “Il Pancione” or “The Big Belly” and with it he left behind the traditional building blocks of Italian opera. He forgoes the expected overture, abandons traditional arias and frequently places the melody in the orchestra rather than the vocal line. Beautiful musical ideas arrive and depart before an audience has a chance to fully grasp or savor them, likening them to quicksilver. Rossini was known to have said Verdi was incapable of writing a comedy. Following the tremendous success of Otello, Verdi commented, “After having relentlessly massacred so many heroes and heroines, I have at last the right to laugh a little.”
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
Surrender to desire.
Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde, a company premiere and the first piece by Richard Wagner to be seen on the Santa Fe Opera stage in over 30 years, will be presented in a new production opening on July 23. Debuting directors Zack Winokur and Lisenka Heijboer Castañón conjure a mesmerizing production of eloquent, elemental simplicity which emphasizes character, emotion and ideas. “Opera is the field where all disciplines collide,” Winokur observes, “…and I want to smash these different methods of performance and expression together to produce a thing of power, meaning, matter and beauty.” The timeless set, designed by the cutting-edge architects Charlap Hyman & Herrero, serves as a canvas for a masterful play of light and shadow by lighting designer John Torres and projections designer Greg Emetaz. Rounding out the creative team is costume designer Carlos J. Soto, who is a longtime collaborator with Robert Wilson. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet are the Fight and Intimacy Directors.
Conductor James Gaffigan returns to the Santa Fe Opera podium to lead a stellar cast that includes exciting company debuts in the title roles: tenor Simon O’Neill as Tristan and soprano Tamara Wilson as Isolde. Mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton sings Brangäne, bass Nicholas Brownlee is Kurwenal and bass Eric Owens performs King Marke. Former Apprentice singer David Leigh sings King Marke on August 11. Susanne Sheston is the Chorus Master.
Wagner wrote Tristan und Isolde under the twin influences of the gloomy philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and of Mathilde Wesendonck, his married lover — both of whom taught him a thing or two about unfulfilled longing. He conveyed his musings on love, sex and death in intensely chromatic music of deferred resolution, conveyed in tidal waves of full-throated singing and lush orchestral sound. Its prelude’s opening with the famous yearning “Tristan chord” is often cited as the birth of modern music, unleashing an unstoppable wellspring of musical possibility. The work’s unprecedented chromaticism, tonal ambiguity and stunning orchestral color changed every composer who came after, influencing everything from Expressionism to film music to Heavy Metal.
In order to best accommodate audiences, all performances of Tristan und Isolde will begin at 8:00 pm.
M. BUTTERFLY 蝴蝶君
Love has no boundaries.
Rounding out the Santa Fe Opera’s 2022 Season will be the world premiere of Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly on July 30, 2022. The piece is the company’s 18th world premiere, further building upon a long legacy of commissioning new works. It is based upon Hwang’s Tony Award-winning play of the same name, inspired by the true story of a French diplomat who carried on a 20-year love affair with a star of the Peking Opera who has an astonishing secret. The story’s many parallels with Puccini’s well-known Madama Butterfly are echoed in the new opera’s music which has itself been an iconic work at the Santa Fe Opera, having opened all three theaters in 1957, 1968 and 1998. In many ways, M. Butterfly is a logical progression for the Santa Fe Opera, honoring the company’s history while championing new operatic works.
M. Butterfly will be staged by James Robinson and the same creative team that prepared the Santa Fe Opera’s widely praised American premiere of Huang Ruo’s Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 2014, including Allen Moyer (scenic design), James Schuette (costume design) and Christopher Akerlind (lighting design). Greg Emetaz will serve as the projections designer. Their gripping production captures the lyricism of Huang Ruo’s music and reveals the blurred lines between fantasy and reality. Maestra Carolyn Kuan, Music Director of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, returns to the Santa Fe Opera podium. Baritone Mark Stone sings the role of René Gallimard. Countertenor Kangmin Justin Kim (Song Liling) and mezzo-soprano Hongni Wu (Comrade Chin/Shu Fang) make exciting company debuts. Tenor and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singer Joshua Dennis creates the role of Marc and Santa Fe Opera audience favorite Kevin Burdette performs the roles of Manuel Toulon and the Judge. Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet are the Intimacy Directors. Susanne Sheston is the Chorus Master.
Librettist David Henry Hwang writes, “When Huang Ruo and I began looking for our next project together, it seemed time to finally embark upon my dream of bringing M. Butterfly back to the world of opera, which in many ways strikes me as its most natural home. I am grateful to the Santa Fe Opera for investing the time, resources and artistic support necessary to develop and realize this work. Because opera is the most theatrical of stage forms, one which most effectively facilitates an audience’s suspension of disbelief, Huang Ruo and I believe it will allow this story to take wing more beautifully and powerfully than ever before.”
2022 Debuts
Lisenka Heijboer Castañón (Stage Director); Mariame Clément (Stage Director); David Crawford (Bass); Sylvia D’Eramo+ (Soprano); Andrew D. Edwards (Scenic & Costume Designer); Greg Emetaz (Projections Designer); Eric Ferring+ (Tenor); Andrew George (Choreographer); Ryan Speedo Green (Bass); Julia Hansen (Scenic & Costume Designer); Mathieu Guilhaumon (Choreographer); Mitchell Harper (Choreographer); Charlap Hyman & Herrero (Scenic Designer); Kangmin Justin Kim(Countertenor); Alexandra LoBianco (Soprano); Iván López-Reynoso (Conductor); Sir David McVicar (Stage Director); Simon O’Neill (Tenor); Lizzie Powell (Lighting Designer); Ann McMahon Quintero (Mezzo-soprano); Carlos J. Soto (Costume Designer); Michael Sumuel (Bass-Baritone); John Torres (Lighting Designer); Elena Villalón (Soprano); Matthew White (Tenor); Tamara Wilson (Soprano); Hongni Wu (Mezzo-Soprano)
Returning Artists
with most recent Santa Fe Opera appearance
Singers
Jamie Barton (Faust, The Last Savage, 2011); Nicholas Brownlee (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021); Kevin Burdette (The Lord of Cries, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021); Scott Conner (The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018); Joshua Dennis+ (The Thirteenth Child, 2019); Michael Fabiano+ (La Traviata, 2013); Emily Fons+ (Roméo et Juliette, 2016); Brian Frutiger (La Traviata, 1997); Joshua Hopkins (Die Fledermaus, 2017); Quinn Kelsey (Rigoletto, 2015); David Leigh+ (The Thirteenth Child, 2019); Isabel Leonard (Cold Mountain, 2015); Megan Marino+ (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021); Eric Owens (Wozzeck, 2011); Mark Stone (Così fan tutte, 2007); Jack Swanson+ (The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018); Roland Wood (La Traviata, 2013)
Conductors
Harry Bicket OBE (The Marriage of Figaro, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021); Paul Daniel CBE (The Thirteenth Child, 2019); James Gaffigan (Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018); Carolyn Kuan (Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014)
Directors
Stephen Barlow (Tosca, 2012); James Robinson (Vanessa, 2016); Zack Winokur (Choreographer, Lucia di Lammermoor, 2017)
Designers
Christopher Akerlind (Vanessa, 2016); Allen Moyer (Die Fledermaus, 2017); James Schuette (Vanessa, 2016); Duane Schuler (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021)
Chorus Master
Susanne Sheston (2021 Season)
+Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
CARMEN
Music Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
Premiered March 3, 1875, Opéra-Comique, Paris
New Production
10 Performances — July 1, 6, 9, 15, 22; August 2, 8, 13, 17 & 27
Sung in French with opera titles in English and Spanish
Run time of approximately 2 hours 45 minutes including a 25-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by:
The Estate of Suzanne Hanson Poole
Robert L. Turner
Additional artistic support provided by:
Miranda & David Lind
E.H. Corrigan Foundation Fund
The performances of Harry Bicket are supported by:
Joseph M. Bryan, Jr.
The engagement of Mariame Clément is supported by:
The Marineau Family Foundation
The performances of Isabel Leonard are supported by:
Susan Esco Chandler & Alfred D. Chandler
The performances of Michael Sumuel are supported by:
Brooke Suzanne Gray
The performances of Sylvia D’Eramo are underwritten by:
The MacKay Fund for Debut Artists
Creative Team
Conductor Harry Bicket
Stage Director Mariame Clément*
Scenic & Costume Designer Julia Hansen*
Lighting Designer Duane Schuler
Choreographer Mathieu Guilhaumon*
Fight & Intimacy Directors Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Micaëla Sylvia D’Eramo+*
Carmen Isabel Leonard
Don José Matthew White* (July), Michael Fabiano+ (August)
Escamillo Michael Sumuel*
Zuniga David Crawford*
Dancaïre Luke Sutliff^
Remendado Anthony León^
Moralès Darren Lekeith Drone^
Frasquita Magdalena Kuźma^
Mercédès Kathleen Felty^
Lillas Pastia Omen Thomas Sade
The Santa Fe Opera Chorus & Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, ^Current Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
THE BARBER OF SEVILLE
Music by Gioachino Rossini
Libretto by Cesare Sterbini
Premiered February 20, 1816, Teatro Argentina, Rome
New Production
8 Performances — July 2, 8, 13; August 1, 6, 10, 20 &
26
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
Run time of approximately 2 hours 50 minutes including a 25-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by:
David A. Kaplan & Glenn A. Ostergaard, Brautigam-Kaplan Foundation
James R. Seitz, Jr.
Additional artistic support provided by:
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
The L.A. Crosby & A.O. Crosby Endowment Fund
The performances of Jack Swanson and Joshua Hopkins are supported by:
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The engagement of Iván López-Reynoso is underwritten by:
The John Crosby Conductor’s Chair endowed by Flora L. Thornton
The performances of Ryan Speedo Green are underwritten by:
The Peter B. Frank Principal Artist Fund
Creative Team
Conductor Iván López-Reynoso*~
Stage Director Stephen Barlow
Scenic & Costume Designer Andrew D. Edwards*
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Choreographer Mitchell Harper*
Fight & Intimacy Directors Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Rosina Emily Fons+
Count Almaviva Jack Swanson+
Figaro Joshua Hopkins
Doctor Bartolo Kevin Burdette
Don Basilio Nicholas Newton^(July 2-13 and August 26); Ryan Speedo Green* (August 1, 6, 10 & 20)
Berta Murrella Parton^
Fiorello Kyle Miller^
Officer Allen Michael Jones^
The Santa Fe Opera Chorus & Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, ^Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~U.S. Debut
FALSTAFF
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto Arrigo Boito
Premiered February 9, 1893, La Scala, Milan
Co-production with Scottish Opera
7 Performances — July 16, 20, 29; August 4, 9, 16, & 25
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
Run time of approximately 2 hours 9 minutes including a 25-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by:
Wyncote Foundation, as recommended by Frederick R. Haas & Rafael Gomez
Robert & Ellen Vladem
Additional artistic support provided by:
David B. & Anna-Karin J. Dillard
The John Crosby Production Fund
The performances of Quinn Kelsey are supported by:
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The performances of Eric Ferring are underwritten by:
The MacKay Fund for Debut Artists
Creative Team
Conductor Paul Daniel CBE
Stage Director Sir David McVicar*
Scenic & Costume Designer Sir David McVicar*
Lighting Designer Lizzie Powell*
Choreographer Andrew George*
Fight & Intimacy Directors Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Alice Alexandra LoBianco*
Nannetta Elena Villalón*
Meg Page Megan Marino+
Mistress Quickly Ann McMahon Quintero+*
Fenton Eric Ferring+*
Doctor Caius Brian Frutiger
Falstaff Quinn Kelsey
Ford Roland Wood
Bardolfo Thomas Cilluffo^
Pistola Scott Conner
The Santa Fe Opera Chorus & Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, ^Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
TRISTAN UND ISOLDE
Music and Libretto by Richard Wagner
Libretto based on Tristan by Gottfried von Strassburg
Premiered June 10, 1865, Königliches Hof- und Nationaltheater, Munich
New Production
6 Performances — July 23, 27; August 5, 11, 19 & 23
Sung in German with opera titles in English and Spanish
Please note that all performances of Tristan und Isolde begin at 8 pm
Run time of approximately 4 hours 25 minutes including a 25-minute and a 20-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by:
The Avenir Production Fund
Additional artistic support provided by:
Gene & Jean Stark
National Endowment for the Arts
The Jane & Arthur T. Stieren, Jr. Endowment Fund
The performances of Simon O’Neill and James Gaffigan are supported by:
The Wagner Society of Santa Fe
The performances of Eric Owens are supported by:
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
The performances of Tamara Wilson are supported by:
Kris Vikmanis & Denny Creighton
The performances of Jamie Barton are supported by:
David & Frances Ertel
The engagement of Zack Winokur is supported by:
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon & Howard Solomon (In Memoriam)
Original production support generously provided by:
Wyncote Foundation, as recommended by Frederick R. Haas & Rafael Gomez
Sarah Billinghurst Solomon & Howard Solomon (In Memoriam)
Gene & Jean Stark
Jane Stieren Lacy in memory of Arthur T. Stieren
Robert L. Turner
Wagner Society of Santa Fe
The Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation
Creative Team
Conductor James Gaffigan
Stage Director Zack Winokur and Lisenka Heijboer Castañón*
Scenic Designers Charlap Hyman & Herrero*
Costume Designer Carlos J. Soto*
Lighting Designer John Torres*
Projections Designer Greg Emetaz*
Fight & Intimacy Directors Rick Sordelet and Christian Kelly-Sordelet
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Isolde Tamara Wilson*
Brangäne Jamie Barton
Tristan Simon O’Neill*
Kurwenal Nicholas Brownlee+
King Marke Eric Owens, David Leigh+ (Aug. 11)
Shepherd Dylan M. Davis^
Sailor Jonah Hoskins^
Melot Eric Taylor^
Steersman Erik Grendahl^
The Santa Fe Opera Chorus & Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, ^Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
M. BUTTERFLY 蝴蝶君
Music by Huang Ruo
Libretto by David Henry Hwang
World Premiere July 30, 2022, The Santa Fe Opera
Based on the stage play “M. Butterfly” by David Henry Hwang
Commissioned by The Santa Fe Opera
M. Butterfly was developed with assistance from:
American Lyric Theater, Lawrence Edelson, Producing Artistic Director
5 Performances — July 30; August 3, 12, 18 & 24
Sung in English with opera titles in English and Spanish
Run time of approximately 2 hours 48 minutes including a 25-minute intermission
Production support generously provided by:
Mellon Foundation
Agnes Hsu-Tang & Oscar Tang – Tang Fund
Edward & Betsy Cohen – The Aretê Foundation
Additional artistic support provided by:
The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation
National Endowment for the Arts
The General Director’s Premiere Fund in honor of Richard Gaddes
The Fund for New or Rarely Performed Operas
The engagement of Carolyn Kuan is supported by:
The Marineau Family Foundation
The engagement of James Robinson is supported by:
Douglas Dockery Thomas
Original production support generously provided by:
Linda Pierce
The Marineau Family Foundation
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
Creative Team
Conductor Carolyn Kuan
Stage Director James Robinson
Scenic Designer Allen Moyer
Costume Designer James Schuette
Lighting Designer Christopher Akerlind
Projection Designer Greg Emetaz
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
René Gallimard Mark Stone
Song Liling Kangmin Justin Kim*
Comrade Chin/Shu Fang Hongni Wu*
Manuel Toulon/Judge Kevin Burdette
Marc Joshua Dennis+
Agent 1 Lucy Evans^
Agent 2 Andrew Turner^
The Santa Fe Opera Chorus & Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, ^Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
About The Santa Fe Opera –The Santa Fe Opera annually draws 85,000 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 177 operas by 90 composers spanning five centuries of opera, creating a legacy of 45 American premieres and 17 world premieres.
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.