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The Santa Fe Opera Ensemble, Center: Brenton Ryan (CM), photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

The Righteous 2024

World Premiere

July 13 - August 13, 2024

Faith. Power. Ambition. 

David struggles to reconcile spirituality with ambition. His desire for more transforms his relationship with his family, friends and, perhaps, his own faith. His journey from preacher to Governor, like the lives of those closest to him, is shaped by current affairs of the 1980s.

Kevin Newbury directs an intriguing new production set in the American Southwest. This World Premiere by Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith features an all-star cast including Anthony Roth Costanzo, Michael Mayes, Elena Villalón, Jennifer Johnson Cano, Greer Grimsley, among others. Jordan de Souza makes his Santa Fe Opera conducting debut.

Statement from the Creative Team:

The Righteous explores the tension between genuine faith and the fraught world of 1980s politics. Along the way, the characters’ sacred love for God becomes entwined with the complicated realities of their romantic lives.

The opera opens with David, a preacher in the 1980s building a church in the American Southwest. He marries into a wealthy oil family and is eventually pressed to run as governor of his state, succeeding his father-in-law Paul. At the same time, he has an affair with Sheila, whose more mystical theology enraptures him, leading them both to a personal crossroads by the end of the decade.


Fe. Poder. Ambición.

David lucha por conciliar la espiritualidad con la ambición. Su deseo por tener más y más está transformando su relación con su familia, con sus amigos y quizás incluso con su propia fe. Su trayectoria de pastor a gobernador, así como las vidas de los más cercanos a él, está moldeada por los acontecimientos de la década de los ochenta del siglo pasado.

La dirección de esta nueva producción ambientada en el suroeste americano corre a cargo de Kevin Newbury. El presente estreno mundial de Gregory Spears y Tracy K. Smith cuenta con un reparto de lujo que incluye a Anthony Roth Costanzo, Michael Mayes, Elena Villalón, Jennifer Johnson Cano y Greer Grimsley, entre otros. Jordan de Souza se encargará de la dirección musical en el que será su debut en la Ópera de Santa Fe.

Music By
Gregory Spears
Libretto By
Tracy K. Smith
Sung In
English
Instant Translation Screen
English and Spanish
Commissioned by
The Santa Fe Opera
The 2024 Season is dedicated to the memory of
Richard Gaddes, Former General Director of the Santa Fe Opera
Production support generously provided by
Wyncote Foundation, as recommended by Frederick R. Haas & Rafael Gomez
David A. Kaplan & Glenn A. Ostergaard -
Brautigam-Kaplan-Ostergaard Foundation
Robert L. Turner
Additional artistic support provided by
David B. & Anna-Karin J. Dillard
The Brown & Kunze Foundation
Carol Franc Buck Foundation
The Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation
The Carl & Marilynn Thoma Foundation
The General Director’s Premiere Fund in honor of Richard Gaddes
The Fund for New or Rarely Performed Operas by Dr. Patricia A. McFate
in memory of Ambassador Sidney N. Graybeal
National Endowment for the Arts
The performances of Anthony Roth Costanzo are supported by
Gene & Jean Stark
The performances of Jennifer Johnson Cano are supported by
The MacKay Fund for Debut Artists
Run Time
Approximately 3 hours; includes a 25-minute intermission

Synopsis

Act I

1979. A state in the American Southwest. Paul, an oil magnate with political aspirations, his friend CM, his son Jonathan, and his son’s best friend David are out for a day of turkey hunting. David, a preacher, tells Jonathan he feels that God is telling him to marry Jonathan’s sister Michele. Jonathan cannot hide that he wishes David could be more than a brother-in-law to him. Back at Paul’s ranch, David proposes to Michele, and she accepts.

Eli, an army serviceman, tells his wife Sheila that he will be leaving soon to lead training exercises overseas. She protests, for her own sake and that of their daughter, Shannon. David preaches a sermon on the importance of loving one’s neighbor. A few weeks later, David asks Sheila, a parishioner in his church, to lead a women’s group. David and Michele read the laudatory article that has just been written about the church. David’s charisma and leadership skills have led to whispers of his potential emergence as a write-in candidate for Governor, and Paul and CM are worried that David’s big personality is a threat to Paul’s own gubernatorial campaign. Michele asks David to make a public statement that he has no intention of running against Paul.

1986. Jonathan challenges David on his stance on AIDS. In David’s words, “Love is terrifying.” In Jonathan’s, “Isn’t it?” Sheila leads the women’s group – all profess the need to be calmed and soothed in the midst of family issues – and confesses that she is a survivor of abuse, but a believer in the all-knowing love of God, “terrible and wonderful.” David and the Deacons plan to expand the sanctuary. Michele misses the David she’d thought she knew. David, seeing that Sheila is still in the church, goes back in after her to offer his prayerful attentions. They kiss.


1979. Un estado del suroeste americano. Paul, un magnate del petróleo con aspiraciones políticas, su amigo CM, su hijo Jonathan y el mejor amigo de éste David están pasando un día cazando pavos. David, que es pastor, le confiesa a Jonathan que siente que Dios le está pidiendo que se case con Michele, la hermana de Jonathan. Éste no puede esconder que desearía que David fuese algo más que un cuñado para él. De vuelta en el rancho de Paul, David pide matrimonio a Michele y ésta acepta.

El soldado Eli comunica a su esposa Sheila que pronto tendrá que partir al extranjero para dirigir unos ejercicios de entrenamiento. Sheila se queja en su propio nombre y en el de Shannon, la hija de ambos. David predica un sermón sobre la importancia del amor al prójimo. Unas semanas después, David pide a Sheila, que es feligresa en su iglesia, dirigir las sesiones de un grupo de mujeres. David y Michele leen un ensalzador artículo que se acaba de escribir sobre su iglesia. El carisma y las cualidades de liderazgo de David han sido tema de atención en relación con su posible candidatura a gobernador. Paul y CM están preocupados por el hecho de que la personalidad de David pueda amenazar la propia campaña electoral de Paul. Michele pide a David que exprese públicamente que no tiene intención de presentarse a las elecciones contra Paul.

1986. Jonathan reta a David a discutir la postura de éste en el tema del sida. En palabras de David, “el amor aterra.” En las de Jonathan, “¿no es cierto?” Sheila dirige el grupo de mujeres en la iglesia en el que todas expresan la necesidad de encontrar paz en medio de sus problemas familiares. Confiesa que ha sufrido abusos en su vida pero que sigue siendo una profunda creyente en el amor omnisciente de Dios. “Terrible y maravilloso.” David y los diáconos planean expandir el santuario. Michele extraña al David que creyó conocer. Al ver que Sheila todavía se encuentra en la iglesia, David vuelve a entrar para ofrecerle sus devotas atenciones. Se besan.

Act II

Paul’s ranch, after the election. First Lady Marilyn is planning a dinner. Michele confides in her mother that her relationship with David has cooled. Marilyn assures her that she and Paul will always provide options for her. Michele sees a vision of David and Sheila’s affair. Paul has a heart attack and dies. The family is stricken. At the ensuing wake, old friend and consultant CM arrives and immediately asks David to run in the special election to replace Paul as governor.

Three months later David has won the special election. He returns to his church to say goodbye. Michele offers a curious prayer about forgiveness for husbands who betray their wives.

1990. David and Sheila, now husband and wife, host a reception at the Governor’s Mansion. They meet various guests, among them is Jacob, a young Black preacher from a struggling urban community. He complains that his community is misunderstood, while David holds fast to the belief that cracking down on crack and on the areas it affects is the best policy. Sheila extemporizes a speech about God’s compassion and privately excoriates David for what she sees as the change in his heart and views. Sheila feigns a headache and retires for the evening.

Shannon, Sheila’s daughter, has brought her friend Deirdre home from college. The dinner conversation with Sheila and David so manifests the tension between idealistic Shannon and her more staid stepfather that the girls take their meal upstairs. In the morning Shannon offers encouragement to her mother. Sheila makes a generous gift to the Women’s Shelter and goes there to offer her services as a group leader. There she meets Michele, who is there as legal counsel. Though forgiveness is neither sought nor offered, the two seem almost relieved to see each other.

Jonathan visits David at his office, interrupting a meeting on a new piece of “quiet” legislation. Jonathan is leaving for a place where he can be himself. David reflects on friendship and the passage of time and asks of God, “What did I mistake for you?”


Rancho de Paul, después de las elecciones. La primera dama Marilyn planea una cena. Michele le revela a su madre que su relación con David se ha enfriado. Marilyn le asegura que tanto ella como Paul siempre estarán ahí para proporcionarle otras opciones. Michele imagina un affaire entre David y Sheila. Paul sufre un ataque al corazón y muere. La familia está desolada. Su viejo amigo y consultor CM llega al velatorio y pide a David que se presente a los comicios extraordinarios para ocupar el puesto de gobernador de Paul.

Tres meses después, David gana las elecciones y vuelve a su iglesia para despedirse. Michele ofrece una curiosa plegaria sobre el perdón para los esposos que traicionan a sus esposas.

1990. Los ahora marido y mujer David y Sheila son los anfitriones de una recepción en la mansión del gobernador. Entablan conversación con diferentes invitados, uno de los cuales es Jacob, un joven pastor negro proveniente de una comunidad en dificultades. Jacob se queja de que a su comunidad no se la entiende, mientras David sigue convencido de que la mejor política consiste en acabar con la cocaína y con las áreas en las que está presente. Sheila improvisa un discurso sobre la compasión divina y, de manera privada, reprende a David por lo que ella considera un cambio de opinión inaceptable. Sheila finge un dolor de cabeza y se retira.

La hija de Sheila Shannon ha traído a casa a Deirdre, un amigo de la universidad. Durante la cena con Sheila y David, la conversación entre la idealista Shannon y su padrastro, defensor de unas ideas mucho más tradicionales, alcanza tal tensión que las chicas acaban por levantarse y terminan de cenar en su habitación. A la mañana siguiente, Shannon anima a su madre. Sheila hace una generosa donación a la casa de acogida de mujeres y ofrece sus servicios como terapeuta de grupos. Es en la casa de acogida donde conoce a Michele, que trabaja allí como asesora legal. Las dos parecen aliviadas de verse, aunque no intercambian palabras de perdón algunas.

Jonathan visita a David en su oficina. David se encuentra en medio de una reunión sobre una nueva legislación que debe tramitarse con discreción. Jonathan ha decidido marcharse a un lugar donde pueda ser él mismo. David reflexiona sobre la amistad y el paso del tiempo, y pregunta a Dios: “¿en qué me equivoqué por ti?”

Artists

Michael Mayes

Michael Mayes

Baritone

David

Elena Villalon

Elena Villalón

Soprano

Sheila

Jennifer Johnson

Jennifer Johnson Cano

Mezzo-soprano

Michele

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Anthony Roth Costanzo

Countertenor

Jonathan

Greer Grimsley headshot

Greer Grimsley

Bass-baritone

Paul

Brenton Ryan

Brenton Ryan

Tenor

CM

Wendy Bryn Harmer headshot

Wendy Bryn Harmer

Soprano

Marilyn

Newton, Nicholas headshot

Nicholas Newton

Bass-baritone

Jacob

Andrew Turner

Andrew Turner

Tenor

Eli

Jazmine Saunders

Jazmine Saunders

Soprano

Shannon

Natasha Isabella Gesto

Natasha Isabella Gesto

Soprano

Deirdre

Isobel Anthony

Isobel Anthony

Soprano

Woman 1/Jenny

Ashlyn Brown

Ashlyn Brown

Mezzo-soprano

Woman 2/Event Planner

Tessa Fackelmann

Tessa Fackelmann

Mezzo-soprano

Woman 3/Woman/Ruth

Cole Bellamy

Cole Bellamy

Baritone

Deacon 1

Luke Harnish

Luke Harnish

Bass-baritone

Deacon 2/Joe/Representative

Matthew Goodheart

Matthew Goodheart

Tenor

Deacon 3/Young Aide

Jordan De Souza

Jordan de Souza

Conductor

Kevin Newbury headshot

Kevin Newbury

Director

Mimi Lien

Mimi Lien

Scenic Designer

Devario Simmons

Devario Simmons

Costume Designer

Japhy Weideman

Japhy Weideman

Lighting Designer

Greg Emetaz headshot

Greg Emetaz

Projection & Video Designer

Susanne Sheston headshot

Susanne Sheston

Chorus Master

Video

2024 Season Playlist