On Oct. 23, the Santa Fe Opera and Center for Contemporary Arts will present a special online screening of “Is This America?,” a workshop of the new, one-act opera “This Little Light of Mine” that portrays key events in the life of voting rights activist Fannie Lou Hamer. Hamer was a Black woman of humble origins who spoke truth to {…}
(Credit: B. Ealovega) The Santa Fe Opera has announced that Susan Graham will become an Honorary Board member of the Santa Fe Opera Board of Directors. The company made the announcement via social media stating, “We are proud to announce the appointment of legendary mezzo-soprano and longtime friend of the Santa Fe Opera, Susan Graham, as an Honorary Board member {…}
Santa Fe Opera has announced a new digital performance series that will take place throughout July. The series, entitled “Songs from the Santa Fe Opera,” will celebrate the opening nights of the operas that the company was originally set to perform throughout the 2020 season. “We feel strongly about bringing the joy of opera to our communities during this difficult {…}
Santa Fe Opera has announced the company has broken $1 million in its ticket donation campaign meant to keep the organization afloat and help compensate its workers during this time of closed theaters. Earlier this year, the company had experienced great success in ticket sales, reaching nearly $5 million. Since the spread of the coronavirus and the closure of public {…}
General Director Robert K. Meya has announced the cancellation of Santa Fe Opera’s 2020 Season. The festival, which was scheduled to open on July 3 and run through August 29, was forced to cancel due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent closure of nonessential businesses, constraints on public gatherings and restriction of both domestic and international travel. In an {…}
The Santa Fe Opera has appointed five musicians to join the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra at the start of the 2020 Season. The company announced that after competitive auditions which occurred on-site in August 2019, the ensemble will add Steven Moeckel as its new concertmaster, Margot Schwartz as Assistant principal second violin, Jennifer Best Takeda as Section violin, Alistair Eng {…}
(Photo credit: Simon Pauly) Today tenor Joshua Dennis is on a roll. A look back at his 2018-19 season reveals a whopping seven productions across such U.S. cities as New Orleans, San Antonio, Salt Lake City, Saint Paul, and Santa Fe in repertory ranging from classic romantics such as Verdi and Gounod to world premieres with modern masters like Joel Puckett {…}
One major opera staple is on this weekend’s list. But the rest are all made up of 20th and 21st century operas, including two works making their world premieres. Here are our top five operas to see this weekend (in alphabetical order by company). Chautauqua Opera Company – The Ghosts of Versailles For one night only, Chautauqua Opera will showcase {…}
This week the Santa Fe Opera is set to present its 16th world premiere. The company, which has been an advocate for new opera, will present the fifth opera by Poul Ruders, “The Thirteenth Child.” The work, which tells the story of a paranoid king who banishes his 12 sons in favor of Lyra, the thirteenth child. But when Princess Lyra {…}
(Credit: Seattle Opera / Jacob F. Lucas) This weekend, we are recommending some of the best-known works of the repertory in a bevy of productions across the U.S. One repertory staple will be getting a new arrangement in a English. Here are our top five operas to see this week (in chronological order by company). Cincinnati Opera – Porgy and {…}
There are four operas that rarely get performances in North America, making them all the more essential viewing for the weekend. Here are our top five operas to see this weekend (in alphabetical order by company). Billy Budd – Central City Opera Britten’s masterwork kicks off on Saturday with a production conducted by John Baril and directed by Ken Cazan. {…}