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Home , Amanda Majeski, Erin Wall, Santa Fe Opera

THE SANTA FE 60th Anniversary Season! Monday, August 1st through Saturday, August 6th

Santa Fe , Charles McKay General Director “Each summer, the superbly inventive , playing in anta Fe Opera ’s 2016 season will celebrate the company’s a brilliant new theater by James Stewart Polshek on a hilltop north 60th Anniversary with an irresistible variety of proven and of town, draws visitors from all around the globe. The annual Cham - unfamiliar works. We will include all five major opera pro - ber Music Festival and extensive dance and theater programs also ductions , with a performance – or a concert – every evening. help to make Santa Fe feel a bit like Salzburg with margaritas. There S The open-air opera house offers an experience that no opera is sorcery in the air here.” NY Times enthusiast should miss. Now aesthetically covered and protected delivered the goods (as Salome), her luxuriously from occasional evening showers, the Crosby Theatre is dramati - cally situated with a spectacular view of the Southwest valley. gleaming instrument riding easily above the large orchestra and stay - ing fresh to the very end.” Opera News This year, the company is mounting new productions for four of the five , a remarkable accomplishment when many “Daniel Okulitch (as ) sings with richness, vigor and other houses are forced to curtail their plans for reasons of auster - subtle lyricism and brings a dark, brooding quality to the character. ity. We are including all five operas because there is none that we All the characters, including the men, seem drawn to him.” would want to miss during General Director Charles Mackay ’s NY Times eighth season. Mr. Mackay’s outstanding record as the head of : “A voice without regrets, healthy, rounded, ineffably Opera Theatre of St. Louis made him a unanimously popular musical, and eager for a challenge…” New Yorker choice to succeed , who retired from Santa Fe in 2009. The English titles for all five works are displayed on a screen : “Her Cherubino is one of the finest trouser-role performances in memory.” NY Classical Review in front of your seat, similar to the optimum solution initiated by the MET. “ is an ideal Marsch allin () in We will also include a concert by the revered Santa Fe Chamber appearance, noble gestures and bewitching melodies.” Music Festival in the St. Francis Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung Auditorium , a tradition which has : “A beautifully modulated, enriched our Tours for many years. sensitively and sensuously soaring in - The enticing program will feature terpretation of Strauss’s Four Last the Baroque concerti of Telemann, Songs by Erin Wall” Gramophone Vivaldi and Bach. “The range of emotions In chronological order of composi - (as Wotan) can communicate with his tion, the operas will begin with Wolf - half-divine, half-human voice appears gang Amadeus Mozart’s Don limitless.” Wall Street Journal Giovanni , continuing the com - pany’s proven success with his “Eric Owens (as Alberich) sang iconic 18th century classics. Next, with mastery that would be at home Charles Gounod’s romantic tragedy in any Wagnerian age.” Roméo et Juliette will expand the Philadelphia Enquirer Santa Fe Opera’s commitment to Pecos National Historic Park 16 the French repertoire of the late 19th century. Third will be ’s late music- drama, La Fanciulla del West , a ground-break - ing work of the early 20th century with the composer’s most modern harmonic score and melodic invention. Two other 20th century works will complete this exceptionally engaging season: ’s Capriccio , his final work for the stage, reprising the company’s long - time devotion to the Strauss canon; and, finally, the Santa Fe premiere of ’s , his most popular work, first staged at both the MET and the Salzburg Festival in 1958. Orchestra tickets for three operas will be balanced by locations in the Loge for two performances. In La Posada de Santa Fe lobby and pool recent years, our tour members have consistently enjoyed the views and acoustics of the Loge seats. Many of today’s most accomplished artists choose the Santa Fe Opera as an ideal venue for assuming new and adventurous roles. from the city’s bustling Plaza, and a shuttle bus is available for To mark the 60th Anniversary, this year’s casting will include a those who prefer not to walk. Adjacent to the outdoor swimming number of today’s sought-after singers: Daniel Okulitch, Leah pool is a convenient bar for poolside drinks, salads and sandwiches; Crocetto and Isabel Leonard heading the Mozart ensemble; and the fully equipped Spa offers massages, wraps and other treat - Ailyn Pérez, Stephen Costello and Denyce Graves as the pro - ments. Most importantly, this most desirable property preserves tagonists of Gounod’s Shakespearean tragedy; Patricia Racette, the authentic charm of old Santa Fe and an outdoor landscape. Gwyn Hughes-Jones and Mark Delavan promising ‘verismo’ life in Puccini’s ‘Wild West’; Amanda Majeski, Susan Graham Independent arrivals should be on Monday, August 1st. However, and Eric Owens bringing sumptuous lyricism to Strauss’s one- because there is a performance on the first evening, we are pleased act ‘conversation piece’; and Erin Wall and James Morris as to offer a limited number of rooms for the early optional night of Vanessa and the Old Doctor, two of the principals in Gian Carlo Sunday, July 31st, for those who wish to arrive a day before the Menotti’s libretto for Barber’s melodrama. The highly accom - Tour begins. You should notify us NOW if you want the early night’s plished conductors will include Leonard Slatkin, Emmanuel accommodation. Villaume, John Nelson, Harry Bicket, and Leo Hussain . Early Monday evening, August 1st, our first event will be a Buffet Reception in a private entertainment area of the hotel. This will be an opportunity for you to meet other members of the Tour. At 8:00 pm on Monday, our first performance in the dramatic setting of the Santa Fe Opera House will be Don Giovanni , Mozart’s peer - less 18th century opera inspired by Lorenzo da Ponte’s libretto. The womanizing Don will Museum of be a ‘tour de force’ for the handsome Cana - Art dian bass/baritone Daniel Okulitch , who re - cently created the role of Ennis in the Madrid world premiere of ‘Brokeback Mountain’. The trio of ladies who are the object of his se - Isabel Leonard duction are Leah Crocetto as Donna Anna, Isabel Leonard as Donna Elvira, and Welsh soprano Rhian Lois in her American debut This year, our carefully selected sightseeing excursions are con - as Zerlina. The male contingent will include centrated on Pecos National Historical Park to the east of Santa Lithuanians Edgaras Montvidas as Ottavio Fe; and the private studio of artist Doug Coffin in the Southwest and bass-baritone Kostas Smoriginas as scenery of Abiquii where Georgia O’Keeffe painted many of her Leporello, and bass Solomon Howard as canvases. Both of these private excursions will avoid the area’s the Commendatore. The conductor is John more obvious sites which are overcrowded with summer tourists. Nelson , and the new production will be cre - Daniel Okulitch Santa Fe’s downtown neighborhood surrounding the historic Plaza ated by director Ron Daniels and set de - is now in pristine condition following the city’s 400th Anniver - signer Riccardo Hernandez . Sung in sary celebration in 2010. There will be ample free time to explore Itali an with English & Spanish titles. the Plaza and to visit a number of the city’s major museums. At noon on Tuesday, August 2nd, we will de - Our accommodations for six nights will again be at La Posada part for a visit to the Pecos National His - de Santa Fe . This luxurious resort is now recognized as Santa torical Park , about 15 miles to the East of Fe’s premiere ‘old style’ property, in the quiet atmosphere of a lush Santa Fe. Pecos was founded in about 1300 garden setting with spacious comfortable rooms and a relaxed out - A.D. and is preserved today with the ruins of door breakfast patio. The location is a few short blocks removed the Pecos Monument (a National Historic Leah Crocetto 17 the lecherous Sheriff Jack Rance. Among the large supporting cast are tenor Allan Glassman as the bartender Nick and bass Raymond Aceto as the Wells Fargo agent Ashby. The co-produc - tion with London’s English National Opera will be directed by Richard Jones in his company debut, and the scenery is de - signed by Miriam Buether . The conductor is Emmanuel Vil - laume . Sung in Italian with English & Spanish titles. Wednesday, August 3rd, is free during the day for independent ac - tivities. There are countless galleries and shops to explore, as well as exhibitions at the New Mexico Museum of Art and other major southwest institutions — such as the extraordinary Girard Collection of miniature vil lages and toys in the Museum of In - ternational Folk Art . The Georgia O’Keeffe Mus eum opened in l997 to great fanfare and is within easy walking distance of our Georgia O’Keeffe’s Mountain hotel. IMPORTANT: A four-day Museum Pass is included with our package, which al - lows entry into the city’s museums at your own leisure. (Because of our many repeat travel - ers, we prefer to devote our excursions to out-of- the-way locations instead of the nearby museums Erin Wall James Morris which can be visited on your own.) Wednesday evening, our 8:00 performance Abiquiu will be the new production premiere of Samuel Barber’s Vanessa . First performed at the Landmark) and the Pecos Pueblo Mission Church. “This site is MET in 1958, ‘Vanessa’ takes place in a north - the setting of a continuous story of human habitation covering a ern European country manor during the early 7,000-year period. The Historical Park pre - 1900’s. Both Vanessa and her innocent niece serves evidence of the life of a prehistoric Erika are seduced by the young opportunist Southwest people, and also tell part of the Anatol, with the more desperate elder aunt Leonard Slatkin story of the Spanish exploration of America.” foolishly committing herself to the heartless (Isabel Rojo, Rojo Creative Ventures). After parvenu in the false belief of his honesty. The poignant final curtain viewing the introductory film, we will follow leaves Erika waiting patiently with her grandmother for some fu - a path through the ruins with panoramic ture lover, in the same attitude initially adopted by Vanessa. Gian views of the dramatic landscape. A box lunch Carlo Menotti’s libretto inspired his partner Barber to compose picnic will be included today before return - some of his most beautiful lyric scenes: Erika’s opening aria ‘Must ing to the hotel in mid-afternoon. Patricia Racette the winter come so soon’ (a favorite of all mezzo-sopranos), At 8:00 pm on Tuesday evening, our perform - Vanessa’s florid showpiece ‘Do not utter a word!’, and especially ance will be La Fanciulla del West (‘The the extraordinary closing quintet – ‘To leave, to break, to find, to Girl of the Golden West’) . This late work keep.’ The title role of Vanessa will be sung by Canadian soprano from the pen of Giacomo Puccini (premiered Erin Wall , who made an indelible impression as Santa Fe’s Ara - in NY in 1910) is often mistakenly viewed as bella in 2012 and at the MET in 2013. Mezzo-soprano Virginie a frivolous ‘Western’ by virtue of its Wild West Verreez and contralto Helene Schneiderman will make their setting and such plot elements as a poker company debuts as Erika and the Old Baroness. The MET’s vet - game and a boisterous hanging. eran bass-baritone James Morris will portray the However, a careful read ing of the Old Doctor, and the fast-rising young American Mark Delavan masterful score reveals Puccini’s tenor Zach Borichevsky will assume the role of most adventurous harmonies and melodic style, and Anatol (following his MET debut this winter in the fully developed role of Minnie requires a soprano ‘Manon Lescaut’). The new production will be di - with the mettle of and the tenderness of rected by James Robinson , with stage designs by Mimi. Santa Fe’s trio of principals will showcase the Allen Moyer . The conductor is the notable cham - MET’s beloved soprano Patricia Racette , whose pion of American music, Leonard Slatkin . Sung in gleaming upper voice should prove ideal to express English with English & Spanish titles. Minnie’s fierce possessiveness as she gambles On Thursday, August 4th, an hour’s drive outside against the Sheriff to save her outlaw-lover’s life; the of Santa Fe will take us to the Georgia O’Keeffe Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes-Jones as the anti-hero country of Abiquiu , captured in so many of her fa - Dick Johnson (to whom Puccini ascribed the great miliar paintings. Our destination will be the studio final-act aria ‘Ch’ella mi creda libero e lontano’); and and residence of the world-renowned Free Spirit the stentorian American baritone Mark Delavan as Doug Coffin’s Bird Spirit 18 artist, Doug Coffin . Reflecting his Potawatomi/ Creek Indian roots, Coffin’s work features reliquaries, fetishes, totems and shields, with media ranging from bronze an acrylic paints to steel, stone, leather, buffalo horns and coyote skulls. His reputation earned him a visit to the White House and a meeting with First Lady Hillary Clinton. We will enjoy a leisurely lunch at Mr. Cof - fin’s Abiquiu residence before returning to Santa Fe in the late af - ternoon. At 8:00 pm on Thursday evening, we look forward to the Santa Fe Susan Graham Amanda Majeski Eric Owens Opera’s new production of Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette , Joshua Hopkins as the poet Olivier. The MET’s consummate a long overdue premiere for the company. “Gounod’s opera has bass Eric Owens will portray the theater director La Roche, and been the greatest popular success of the many founded upon mezzo-soprano Susan Graham is luxuriously cast as the actress Shakespeare’s play. The four love duets in the work have drawn Clairon opposite baritone Craig Verm as the brother of the Count - particular praise.” ( New Grove Dictionary of Opera ). Heading ess. The conductor will be Leo Hussain , and the staging is di - tonight’s cast in the title roles are the radiant soprano Ailyn Pérez rected by Tim Albery and designed by Tobias Hoheisel . Sung and lyric tenor Steph - in German with English titles. en Costello . The sup - porting roles will be On Saturday, August 6th, a late lunch has been arranged at Il Pi - sung by bass Ray - atto , an intimate bistro on West Marcy Street in the heart of Santa mond Aceto as Friar Fe. The management frequently opens only for us at our desig - Laurence, tenor Elliot nated hour. Madore as Mercutio, Saturday at and mezzo-soprano 5:00 pm, our Emily Fons in a final event will Ailyn Perez Stephen Costello ‘trouser’ portrayal of be a concert Stephano. Of particular note, the glamorous by the Santa diva Denyce Graves will make her company Fe Chamber debut as Gertrude. The new staging is by the Music Festi - team of director Steph en Lawless and de - val . We are al - signer Ashley Martin- Davis , and Britain’s ways gratified Harry Bicket will be the conductor. Sung in by our early French with English & Spanish titles. confirmation Friday, August 5th, is a free day for independ - for these sold- Harry Bicket ent shopping and sightseeing. out programs. This after - St. Francis Auditorium Early Friday evening, we will enjoy a pre-theatre buffet dinner noon’s perform - on the grounds of the Opera House. These gatherings of opera en - ance will be in the St. Francis Auditorium just off the Plaza and thusiasts offer a generous variety of Southwest cuisine in an attrac - will be devoted to music of the Baroque era. We will hear two con - tive outdoor setting adjacent to the auditorium. During the dessert, certi by Georg Phillipp Telemann, one by Antonio Vivaldi, and Johann we will benefit from a short lecture on tonight’s new production of Sebastian Bach’s Concerto in C Minor for Oboe & Violin, BWV 1060. ‘Capriccio’ by Desiree Mays , a Santa Fe resident who has achieved an enviable reputation for her analyses of the operatic Independent departures should be on Sunday morning, August repertory. (Her annual collection of short essays on the season’s 7th. operas is entitled Opera Unveiled and is always available at the Col - lected Works bookstore. Please note: The Santa Fe area is served by the Albuquerque Airport. The most reliable transportation from the airport to Santa Fe is of - At 8:00 pm on Friday evening, our final opera will be a new produc - fered by Sandia Shuttle Express – 1-888-775-5696 or 505-474-5696. tion of Capriccio . Premiered in Munich in 1942, Strauss’s autum - Reservations and further information can be made by telephone. A nal work is set to Clemens Krauss’ libretto few flights also fly directly into the small Santa arguing the esoteric subject of the impor - Fe Airport. tance of words versus music in operatic com - position. This debate inspired Strauss to compose a glowing one-act work with an en - Santa Fe semble of charming characters. In particular, the role of Countess Madeleine is a loving de - Price per person, piction of an enigmatic woman, with a radiant based on double occupancy $ 3,980 Final Scene for an exceptional singing-ac - Single room supplement $ 885 tress. The American soprano Amanda Ma - jeski opened the 2014 MET season with her debut as Mozart’s Countess (‘Nozze di Fi - Airfare NOT included. garo’), and she added the ‘Rosenkavalier’ Marschallin at ’s Lyric Opera in March. As Madeleine this evening, she will Gustave Baumann’s Eagle Dancer, be torn between two suitors – tenor Ben New Mexico Museum of Art Bliss as the composer Flamand and baritone 19