Dear Friends,

I am thrilled to share the line-up for our 2024 Season, a perfect showcase of what the Santa Fe Opera does best: beautiful, new productions of some of opera’s best known works, a world premiere commission by two of opera’s greatest creative talents, and a beloved work by Richard Strauss, who was championed by our founder, John Crosby. In fact, the Santa Fe Opera presented the American premieres of six operas by Richard Strauss!

Opening Weekend centers on two new productions. Verdi’s La traviata will be directed by Louisa Muller who last summer directed several of our Apprentice Scenes and previously was an Assistant Director for Oscar and Life is a Dream. The production features a truly international cast, all in company debuts: Armenian soprano Mané Galoyan is Violetta, Uzbek tenor Behkzod Davronov is Alfredo, and Mexican baritone Carlos Arámbula is Germont!

Mozart’s Don Giovanni will be directed by Stephen Barlow who brought us 2022’s smash hit, The Barber of Seville, in a new production which takes inspiration from another “DG,” Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray and is set in Victorian-era London. Conducted by Santa Fe Opera Music Director Harry Bicket, we are thrilled to bring you Ryan Speedo Green’s role debut as Don Giovanni, the company debut of Rachael Wilson as Donna Elvira, as well as appearances by former apprentices Teresa Perrotta as Donna Anna and Liv Redpath as Zerlina.

 

While much has been written in recent months about a shift in focus among opera companies toward new works, SFO has always had in its repertory mix a central place for them. In fact, our very first season in 1957 featured a world premiere. To date, we have done 18 world premieres and 46 American premieres. It is in our DNA and a key component of the balanced programming our audiences have come to love and expect. 

 

In the 2024 Season, we present our 19th world premiere, The Righteous by composer Gregory Spears, perhaps best known for his opera Fellow Travelers, and librettist Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winner. Inspired by American history spanning the 70s, 80s and 90s, this opera explores the intersection of faith and political power. Directed by Kevin Newbury, last seen in Santa Fe for The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, the opera features an all-star cast including Anthony Roth Costanzo, Michael Mayes, Greer Grimsley, Elena Villalón (our Nanetta in Falstaff), among others. Jordan de Souza makes his Santa Fe Opera conducting debut.

Not seen on our stage since 1992, we are thrilled to bring back Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier directed by Bruno Ravella in a co-production with Garsington Opera and Irish National Opera. This production won numerous accolades when it opened – in fact, The Sunday Times stated that “no UK production of Rosenkavalier for the past 50 years has a comparable wow factor.” Making her SFO conducting debut will be Karina Canellakis, Principal Guest Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra. The Marschallin is performed by former apprentice Rachel Willis-Sørensen. Paula Murrihy, who performed the role of Messaggera in 2023’s Orfeo, is Octavian. And the role of Sophie is performed by Ying Fang, last seen on our stage as Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro.

 

Finally, we round out the season with a revival of our 2009 production of Donizetti’s The Elixir of Love, directed by Stephen Lawless. Former apprentice Jonah Hoskins performs the role of Nemorino, which he did at the Metropolitan Opera on one night in April to great acclaim! Chilean soprano Yaritza Véliz sings the role of Adina in her company debut and former apprentice Luke Sutliff is Belcore – you may recall his triumphant evening this past summer when he went on for Rolando Villazón on the opening night of Orfeo.

The Santa Fe Opera is where dreams are made. We can’t wait to welcome you back or to welcome you for the first time. It will be a night to remember! 

 

I encourage you to order your tickets now and please consider the benefits of becoming a subscriber, which you will find on the inside back cover of the Magazine.

 

Thank you!