The Santa Fe Opera has announced a cast change for its production of Verdi’s “Rigoletto.” The company said that dramatic baritone and former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice singer Michael Chioldi will sing the title role, replacing Spanish baritone Gerardo Bullón, who has withdrawn for personal reasons. The production opens July 12 and runs for seven performances through August 20, 2025. Chioldi has performed the role at the {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced updates to its 2025 season. The company said that for all five productions, Andrew Moss will serve as Fight and Intimacy Director while David Zimmerman will be the Wig and Makeup Designer. Meanwhile, for its production of “La Bohème,” Emma Marhefka will make her company debut in the role of Musetta, replacing Emily Pogorelc, {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced the names of 85 members of its 2025 Apprentice Program for Theater Technicians. The technicians were selected from over 1,000 national and international applications, with nine of the apprentices coming from New Mexico. The apprentices will work with the company’s production staff of world-class designers, technicians, and skilled crafstpeople from around the world. They {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced that it will partner with 95.5 KHFM Classical Public Radio to present free Opening Nights radio broadcasts of the opera’s 2025 Season. The broadcasts will celebrate the opera’s ongoing commitment to bringing the works to Santa Fe, Española, Los Alamos, Albuquerque, and communities throughout New Mexico and beyond. The broadcasts will begin on July 28 {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2026 season. Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” will open the season with a revival production directed by Melanie Bacaling. The cast will include Karen Chia-ling Ho, Stephen Costello, Jonathan Burton, Jarrett Ott, and Sun-Ly Pierce. John Fiore conducts. Performance Dates: July 3-29, 2026 Harry Bicket conducts Mozart’s “The Magic Flute” in a production by Christopher Luscombe. Josh Lovell, Joélle Harvey, Rainelle {…}
On March 11, 2025, the State of New Mexico declared the day “Santa Fe Opera Day.” The company took to social media and said, “It has just been proclaimed that March 11, 2025 be officially declared “Santa Fe Opera Day” in recognition of the company’s global stature, economic contributions, and deep local impact. Thank you to the NM State Senate {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has announced the 39 members of its 2025 Apprentice Program for Singers. The roster will include young vocalists from across the USA, Canada, Italy, and South Korea. The class of 2025 was selected from a pool of more than 1,000 applicants by Program Director Chandler Johnson, Chief Artistic Advisor David Lomelí, and Chorus Director Susanne Sheston through a competitive pre-screening and audition process. In a {…}
Santa Fe Opera is set to present the free digital premiere of “The Pueblo Opera Program: And What Could Be Next” on Nov 25, 2024. The documentary, which chronicles the 50-year history between the Santa Fe Opera and the Pueblo and Tribal Nationals of New Mexico, will be available to stream for free via the company’s official website and YouTube {…}
New Mexico PBS and the Santa Fe Opera will present “An American Vision: The Santa Fe Opera” on Nov. 7 and 14, 2024. The showcase on Nov. 7 will be a free public screening at the The Lensic Performing Arts Center in downtown Santa Fe. Then a few days later, on the 14th, the channel will broadcast the documentary. “An {…}
(Credit: Janel Lee) The Santa Fe Opera has announced that mezzo-soprano Kaylee Nichols has been awarded the 2024 Award of Excellence. In a statement, the mezzo said, “Incredibly humbled to have received the 2024 Award of Excellence from Santa Fe Opera. Thank you Gayletha Nichols and Chandler Johnson for trusting me, supporting me, and getting me out of my head. {…}
(Photo credit: Curtis Brown) The Santa Fe Opera has announced two free community events for the 2024 Festival Season. Opening Nights Radio Broadcasts in partnership with 95.5 KHFM Classical Public Radio will present free, live-recorded radio broadcasts of the opera’s 2024 Season opening nights, airing at 6 pm MDT on Mondays from July 29 through Aug. 26. Following the air date, {…}