The Santa Fe Opera Unveils the 2025 Season
The Santa Fe Opera Unveils Casting and Repertory Plans for the 2025 Season that include:
A New Production of Puccini’s La bohème and the Revival of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro seen in 2021 on Opening Weekend, June 27 & 28, 2025
July 12, 2025: Verdi’s Rigoletto in a new, international co-production with the Irish National Opera and Opera Zuid
July 19, 2025: Britten’s The Turn of the Screw in a Canadian Opera Company Production originated at Garsington Opera
July 26, 2025: Wagner’s Die Walküre in a Company Premiere and New Production
The 68th Festival Season features 27 Debut Artists, 29 Returning Artists, the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and more than 120 Apprentice Singers and Technicians showcased on two special evenings of Apprentice Scenes and Apprentices in Concert
Visitor Experiences will include Tailgating, Tours, Preview Dinners, Free Prelude Talks & More
More Information, Tickets & Subscriptions are on sale now at santafeopera.org
Santa Fe, NM — The Santa Fe Opera is pleased to unveil casting and repertory plans for the company’s 2025 Season running June 27 through August 23, 2025. The 68th Festival Season features 38 performances of three new productions, a beloved Santa Fe Opera revival, and the remount of an award-winning international production, each in harmony with the company’s time-tested programming model of a balanced and varied repertory of new, lesser-performed and standard works. Opening Weekend centers on a new production of Puccini’s La bohème directed by James Robinson and a revival of 2021’s beloved production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro directed by Laurent Pelly. From July 12, the company will present a new production of Verdi’s Rigoletto by Julien Chavaz in an international co-production with Irish National Opera and Opera Zuid. Opening July 19 will be Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, staged by Louisa Muller in a Canadian Opera Company production originated at Garsington Opera. Rounding out the season on July 26 is Wagner’s masterpiece Die Walküre, presented by the SFO for the first time in a new production by director Melly Still. To best accommodate audiences, all performances of Die Walküre will begin at 8:00 pm. The popular Apprentice Scenes featuring the opera’s singing and technical apprentices are reimagined to provide a wider range of performance and training opportunities for tomorrow’s stars. The first performance on August 10 honors the longtime tradition of staged scenes from the repertoire. The second performance on August 17 will feature the singers in a concert alongside the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra conducted by Iván López-Reynoso. Says General Director Robert K. Meya, “Now more than ever people are seeking new and immersive experiences. A night at the Santa Fe Opera offers first-time visitors and longtime patrons just that. From live performances to the fun of tailgating, Preview Dinners, Tours and free Prelude Talks, we have something for everyone. I hope you will consider joining us for what promises to be a sensational summer!” Individual tickets and subscriptions for both the 2024 and 2025 Seasons are on sale now at santafeopera.org.
La bohème
The Santa Fe Opera’s 68th Festival Season opens on June 27 with Puccini’s operatic treasure and audience favorite, La bohème set in the vibrant playground of 1920s Paris by director James Robinson. In this golden age of artistic revolution, Puccini’s timeless tale of love, longing and sacrifice takes on resonance anew. With scenery by Allen Moyer, costume design by Constance Hoffman and lighting by Duane Schuler, audiences can expect a visual feast that complements the emotional depth of a work that has captivated in every medium: the opera house, on Broadway and in film.
Conductor Iván López-Reynoso leads a talented international cast, with several making company debuts: Chinese tenor Long Long is Rodolfo, American soprano Emily Pogorelc is Musetta and Mexican-American baritone Efraín Solís is Schaunard. Polish baritone Szymon Mechliński makes both his American and company debut in the role of Marcello. American soprano and former Apprentice singer Sylvia D’Eramo sings Mimí, American bass Soloman Howard returns to the SFO stage as Colline and American bass Kevin Burdette portrays Benoît and Alcindoro. The chorus master is Susanne Sheston.
11 performances are scheduled: June 27; July 2, 5, 11, 18, 28; August 2, 6, 14, 19 and 23, 2025.
The Marriage of Figaro
Back by popular demand! Mozart’s The Marriage Figaro, a revival of French director Laurent Pelly’s stylish production, opens on June 28. Originally brought to life in the 2021 Season under challenging circumstances, Pelly directed remotely from Paris due to COVID-19 restrictions and visa regulations. In 2025, the production team will finally realize their production in person.
Set in the late 1930s just before World War II, scenic designs by Pelly’s longtime collaborator Chantal Thomas further enhance the production’s aesthetic. The opera occurs within a 24-hour timeframe, with the action beginning and ending at the same hour; thus a turntable resembles a large clock, with rotating oversized brass gears. Over the course of the opera, the characters are swept away by forces stronger than themselves and by Act IV, all falls apart, including the clock. Noted Fred Cohn for Opera News, “You could marvel at the production team’s cleverness, as the turntable whizzed around and pieces of set went through intricate rearrangements.”
With costumes conceived by Pelly himself, Jean-Jacques Delmotte serves as Associate Costume Designer and internationally recognized lighting designer Duane Schuler returns to Santa Fe to further illuminate this beautiful and timeless production. Susanne Sheston is the chorus master.
Santa Fe Opera Music Director Harry Bicket conducts the international cast. He writes, “I am thrilled that we are able to finally put Laurent Pelly’s new production of The Marriage of Figaro on our stage after all the restrictions placed on us before. With a fabulous cast and Mozart’s unbeatable music, it is truly a marriage made in heaven.” The Santa Fe Opera is proud to present the following American debuts: Italian bass Riccardo Fassi in the title role, French baritone Florian Sempey as Count Almaviva and Spanish soprano Marina Monzó as the Countess. Chinese mezzo Hongni Wu sings Cherubino and American soprano and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singer Liv Redpath sings Susanna. Three more company debuts are noted with Maurizio Muraro as Bartolo, mezzo Lucy Schaufer as Marcellina and Steven Cole as Don Basilio.
Nine performances are scheduled: June 28; July 4, 9, 31; August 4, 9, 12, 16 and 22, 2025.
Rigoletto
Verdi’s Rigoletto opens July 12 in a new co-production with the Irish National Opera and Opera Zuid.
Through the omnipresent figure of Rigoletto, jester to the Duke of Mantua, portrayed as both character and ubiquitous mask, audiences are invited to explore themes of desire, betrayal and the relentless forces of fate that shape the lives of those caught in its grip. Making his Santa Fe Opera directorial debut is Julien Chavaz, General Director of the Theater Magdeburg, with a production that draws inspiration from the rich allure of Renaissance paintings and the strange ambiance of the circus world. Sets by Jamie Vartan, costumes by Jean-Jacques Delmotte and lighting by Rick Fisher work together to create a powerful and dreamlike environment. Nicole Morel serves as movement director and the chorus master is Susanne Sheston.
Italian conductor Carlo Montanaro in his company debut leads the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and a dynamic cast. Spanish baritone Gerardo Bullón makes his American debut in the title role. Cuban-American soprano and 2024 Richard Tucker Career Grant recipient Elena Villalón makes her role debut as Gilda. Former Apprentice singer and tenor Duke Kim undertakes the role of the Duke. Also making American debuts are bass Stephano Park in the role of Sparafucile and mezzo Marcela Rahal as Maddalena. Former Apprentice singer Le Bu sings Monterone.
Seven performances are scheduled: July 12, 16, 25, 29; August 7, 15 and 20, 2025.
The Turn of the Screw
On July 19 the Santa Fe Opera will present Britten’s The Turn of the Screw, exceptionally staged by Louisa Muller in a Canadian Opera Company production originated at Garsington Opera. Based on the 1898 novella by Henry James, the story follows a young governess who is sent to a remote country estate to care for two young children. As disturbing events occur, she grapples with increasing paranoia that plunges everyone into a realm of psychological suspense. With scenery and costumes by Christopher Oram and lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, audiences will be immersed in a haunting atmosphere that mirrors the eerie tension of the narrative.
The Guardian called Muller’s production of The Turn of the Screw at Garsington, “A truly great achievement, devastating and unforgettable,” and named the production one of the Top Ten Classical Music Performances of the Year. As Muller’s first international production, it marked a major turning point in her career by also winning the prestigious Royal Philharmonic Society Award for Best Opera Production. Muller writes, “The Turn of the Screw is a work of utter perfection: spine-tingling, thought-provoking and heart-wrenching in equal measure. This production was a major highlight of my career thus far, and I feel lucky for the opportunity to build it again with new artists and to share it with a new audience.”
New Zealand-born conductor Gemma New takes the podium for her company debut. The cast features former Apprentice singer and soprano Jacquelyn Stucker as the Governess, Christine Rice in her company debut in the role of Mrs. Grose, soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer as Miss Jessel and tenor Brenton Ryan as Peter Quint/Prologue.
Four performances are scheduled: July 19, 23; August 1 and 5, 2025.
Die Walküre
The 2025 Season is made complete with the company premiere of Wagner’s Die Walküre, which marks only the third Wagner opera in the company’s 67-year history and follows on the heels of two highly acclaimed productions: Tristan und Isolde (2022) and The Flying Dutchman (2023).
English director Melly Still makes her Santa Fe Opera directorial debut. She asks, “What was the ripple that created the ripples? Where will it end?” These questions guided the thinking of her team in developing a new production that delves right into the action: a barren land where rules no longer apply, corruption and manipulation are at large and those in power are driven by fear and insecurity. The answer to an existential crisis trickled down from the Gods is that only when there is real love does nature respond. And so, the drama centers around Brünnhilde’s evolving moral compass. Still adds, “She is determined to dismantle the corruption she is wrapped up in. Is Brünnhilde the hope of the future?”
Spanish designer Ana Inés Jabares-Pita oversees scenic and costume design. Malcolm Rippeth returns to design the lighting and Scottish video designer Tim Reid makes his company debut as the video and projection designer. Choreography is by Tinovimbanashe Sibanda in her company debut.
Conductor James Gaffigan returns to the podium to lead a stellar cast that includes three-time Grammy-Award winning bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green in his role debut as Wotan. American tenor Jamez McCorkle makes his role and company debut as Siegmund and Lithuanian-born soprano Vida Miknevičiūtė makes her American and company debut as Sieglinde. Bass Soloman Howard portrays Hunding and former SFO Apprentice singer Sarah Saturnino makes her company debut in the role of Fricka. The 2016 Richard Tucker Award winner Tamara Wilson returns to sing Brünnhilde following her praiseworthy interpretation of Isolde in 2022. Jessica Faselt makes her company and role debut as Helmvige, Wendy Bryn Harmer performs Ortlinde and former Apprentice singer Gretchen Krupp is Waltraute.
Five performances are scheduled: July 26, 30; August 8, 13 and 21, 2025. Please note that all performances of Die Walküre begin at 8:00 pm.
2025 Debuts
Gerardo Bullón~ (Baritone); Julien Chavaz (Director); Steven Cole (Tenor); Jessica Faselt (Soprano); Riccardo Fassi~ (Bass); Ana Inés Jabares-Pita (Scenic & Costume Design); Long Long (Tenor); Jamez McCorkle (Tenor); Szymon Mechliński~ (Baritone); Vida Miknevičiūtė~ (Soprano); Carlo Montanaro (Conductor); Marina Monzó~ (Soprano); Nicole Morel (Movement Director); Maurizio Muraro (Bass); Gemma New (Conductor); Stephano Park~ (Bass); Emily Pogorelc (Soprano); Marcela Rahal~ (Mezzo-soprano); Tim Reid (Video Design); Christine Rice (Mezzo-soprano); Sarah Saturnino+ (Mezzo-soprano); Lucy Schaufer (Mezzo-soprano); Florian Sempey~ (Baritone); Tinovimbanashe Sibanda (Choreographer); Efraín Solís (Baritone); Melly Still (Director); Jamie Vartan (Scenic Design)
2025 Returning Artists
With most recent or upcoming Santa Fe Opera appearance
Singers
Le Bu+ (Orfeo, 2023); Kevin Burdette (M. Butterfly, 2022); Sylvia D’Eramo+ (Carmen, 2022); Ryan Speedo Green (Don Giovanni, 2024); Wendy Bryn Harmer (The Righteous, 2024); Soloman Howard (Don Giovanni, 2024); Duke Kim+ (A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021); Gretchen Krupp+ (The Flying Dutchman, 2023); Liv Redpath+ (Don Giovanni, 2024); Brenton Ryan (The Righteous, 2024); Jacquelyn Stucker+ (Alcina, 2017); Elena Villalón (The Righteous, 2024); Tamara Wilson (Tristan und Isolde, 2022); Hongni Wu (M. Butterfly, 2022);
Conductors
Harry Bicket (Don Giovanni, 2024); James Gaffigan (Tristan und Isolde, 2022); Iván López-Reynoso (The Barber of Seville, 2022)
Directors
Louisa Muller (La traviata, 2024); Laurent Pelly (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021); James Robinson (M. Butterfly, 2022)
Designers
Jean-Jacques Delmotte (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021); Rick Fisher (Eugene Onegin, 2021); Constance Hoffman (The Flying Dutchman, 2023); Allen Moyer (M. Butterfly, 2022); Cristopher Oram (La traviata, 2024); Laurent Pelly (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021); Malcolm Rippeth (Der Rosenkavalier, 2024); Duane Schuler (The Flying Dutchman, 2023); Chantal Thomas (The Marriage of Figaro, 2021)
Chorus Master
Susanne Sheston (2024 Season)
+Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
La bohème
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Based on Scènes de la vie de bohème (1851) by Henri Murger
Premiered February 1, 1896, Teatro Regio, Turin, Italy
A New Santa Fe Opera Production
11 performances — June 27; July 2, 5, 11, 18, 28; August 2, 6, 14, 19 & 23
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
Creative Team
Conductor Iván López-Reynoso
Director James Robinson
Scenic Design Allen Moyer
Costume Design Constance Hoffman
Lighting Design Duane Schuler
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Mimí Sylvia D’Eramo+
Rodolfo Long Long*
Marcello Szymon Mechliński*~
Musetta Emily Pogorelc* (through August 6)
Colline Soloman Howard
Schaunard Efraín Solís*
Benoît/Alcindoro Kevin Burdette
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra & Chorus
*Santa Fe Opera debut, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
The Marriage of Figaro
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Based on La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro (1784) by Pierre Beaumarchais
Premiered May 1, 1786, Burgtheater, Vienna, Austria
Revival production from 2021
9 performances — June 28; July 4, 9, 31; August 4, 9, 12, 16 & 22
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
Production support generously provided by
The Estate of James R. Seitz, Jr.
Creative Team
Conductor Harry Bicket
Director and Costume Design Laurent Pelly
Scenic Design Chantal Thomas
Associate Costume Design Jean-Jacques Delmotte
Lighting Design Duane Schuler
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Count Almaviva Florian Sempey*~
Countess Almaviva Marina Monzó*~
Figaro Riccardo Fassi*~
Susanna Liv Redpath+
Cherubino Hongni Wu
Bartolo Maurizio Muraro*
Marcellina Lucy Schaufer*
Don Basilio Steven Cole*
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra & Chorus
*Santa Fe Opera debut, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
Rigoletto
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Based on Le roi s’amuse (1832) by Victor Hugo
Premiered March 11, 1851, Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy
A New Co-Production with Irish National Opera & Opera Zuid
7 performances — July 12, 16, 25, 29; August 7, 15 & 20
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
Creative Team
Conductor Carlo Montanaro*
Director Julien Chavaz*
Scenic Design Jamie Vartan*
Costume Design Jean-Jacques Delmotte
Lighting Design Rick Fisher
Movement Director Nicole Morel*
Chorus Master Susanne Sheston
Cast
Rigoletto Gerardo Bullón*~
Gilda Elena Villalón
Duke Duke Kim+
Sparafucile Stephano Park*~
Maddalena Marcela Rahal*~
Monterone Le Bu+
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra & Chorus
*Santa Fe Opera debut, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
The Turn of the Screw
Music by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Myfanwy Piper
Based on The Turn of the Screw (1898) by Henry James
Premiered September 14, 1954, Teatro La Fenice, Venice, Italy
A Canadian Opera Company Production originated at Garsington Opera
4 performances — July 19, 23; August 1 & 5
Sung in English with opera titles in English and Spanish
Creative Team
Conductor Gemma New*
Director Louisa Muller
Scenic and Costume Design Christopher Oram
Lighting Design Malcolm Rippeth
Cast
Governess Jacquelyn Stucker+
Peter Quint/Prologue Brenton Ryan
Mrs. Grose Christine Rice*
Miss Jessel Wendy Bryn Harmer
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
Die Walküre
Libretto and music by Richard Wagner
Premiered June 26, 1870, National Theatre, Munich, Germany
A Company Premiere and New Santa Fe Opera Production
5 performances — July 26, 30; August 8, 13 & 21
Sung in German with opera titles in English and Spanish
Please note that all performances begin at 8:00 pm
Creative Team
Conductor James Gaffigan
Director Melly Still*
Scenic and Costume Design Ana Inés Jabares-Pita*
Lighting Design Malcolm Rippeth
Video Design Tim Reid*
Choreographer Tinovimbanashe Sibanda*
Cast
Brünnhilde Tamara Wilson
Wotan Ryan Speedo Green
Siegmund Jamez McCorkle*
Sieglinde Vida Miknevičiūtė*~
Fricka Sarah Saturnino*+
Hunding Soloman Howard
Gerhilde Apprentice singer
Helmvige Jessica Faselt*
Ortlinde Wendy Bryn Harmer
Waltraute Gretchen Krupp+
Rossweise Apprentice singer
Siegrune Apprentice singer
Grimgerde Apprentice singer
Schwertleite Apprentice singer
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra
*Santa Fe Opera debut, +Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice, ~American Debut
Apprentice Scenes
August 10
Sung in various languages with opera titles in English and Spanish
Tickets from $5 to $25
Featuring:
The Apprentice Program for Singers
The Apprentice Program for Theater Technicians
Apprentices in Concert with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra
August 17
Sung in various languages with opera titles in English and Spanish
Tickets from $5 to $25
Featuring:
The Apprentice Program for Singers
The Apprentice Program for Theater Technicians
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra led by Iván López-Reynoso
About the Santa Fe Opera — Recognized as “Festival of the Year” at the International Opera Awards, 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 179 operas by 91 composers spanning five centuries of opera, creating a legacy of 45 American premieres and 18 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.