FEBRUARY 2020

VOLUME 14

ISSUE 5

REGISTER NOW FOR M. BUTTERFLY LECTURE

MARK TIARKS ON M. BUTTERFLY THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 5:30PM SANTA FE WOMAN’S CLUB 1616 OLD PECOS TRAIL FREE FOR GUILD MEMBERS; $10 FOR NON-MEMBERS

When M. Butterfly premieres during The Santa Fe Opera’s 2020 season, it will be an opera that’s based on a play that’s based on an opera that’s based on a play that’s based on a short story that’s based on a novel. This talk by Mark Tiarks looks at the complex genesis of this new piece, beginning with Pierre Loti’s 1887 novel Madame Chrysanthème and John Luther Long’s 1898 short story inspired by Madame Butterfly. Impresario David Belasco adapted the short story for the New York stage, where it was an unexpected smash hit in 1900. Puccini saw the play in London and insisted on securing the rights for his 1904 opera Madama Butterfly. David Henry Hwang, in turn, used it as inspiration for his 1988 Tony Award-winning play M. Butterfly. Along the way there were film adaptations of the opera (including one without Puccini’s music which starred Cary Grant as Pinkerton!) and of Hwang’s play, starring Jeremy Irons. M. Butterfly has been given new life as an opera by librettist Hwang and composer Huang Ruo. M. Butterfly makes its world premiere this summer in Santa Fe. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear one of our favorite speakers and learn the background of this exciting new opera. The talk will be on Thursday, February 13 at the Santa Fe Woman’s Club, beginning at 5:30PM. This event is free for members, but we are asking everyone to register by clicking here or phoning 888-666-3430 x503.

SPECIAL INVITATION CLOSING NIGHT CAST PARTY

The Guilds of the Santa Fe Opera, Inc. recently announced that members at the $600+ level will be invited to the Company Cast Party on Closing Night in Dapples Pavilion on Saturday, August 29 following the final performance of The Barber of Seville. Cast, crew, staff, and donors will gather to celebrate the 2020 Season and look forward to 2021. It is a very special experience. If you would like additional information or to increase your donor level, contact Leslie Veditz, VP of Membership for the Santa Fe Opera Guild. Her email address is [email protected] or 888-666-3430x502.

DESIRÉE MAYS: TRISTAN UND ISOLDE

INTRODUCTION TO TRISTAN UND ISOLDE, PART I THURSDAY, MARCH 26, 5:30PM SANTA FE WOMAN’S CLUB 1616 OLD PECOS TRAIL FREE FOR GUILD MEMBERS; $10 FOR NON-MEMBERS

In the words of a medieval troubadour: "If you would hear a tale of love and death, here is that of Tristan and Queen Iseult, how to their full joy, but to their sorrow also, they loved each other, and how at last they died of that love together upon one day." The back story to this tale, how Tristan and Isolde met in Ireland and how he came to bring her by sea to Cornwall, not for himself, but for his uncle King Marke, will be discussed as the introduction to Richard Wagner's great tribute to Love - and Death. Wagner wrote in 1854: "As I have never in my life tasted the true joy of love, I will raise a monument to this loveliest of all dreams." This statement from the heart of Wagner and Romanticism itself informs the soul of the work in music that is unsurpassed in terms of love and longing. Desirée will discuss the story, in her own inimitable style, and play music excerpts. What is the phenomenon of Wagner and his transformative music?" Please register for Tristan und Isolde, Part I by clicking here, to attend this informative Guild-sponsored lecture on Thursday, March 26th, 5:30PM at the Santa Fe Woman’s Club call 888-666-3430x503 The Tristan Chord: Digging Deeper, Part II is being held at Collected Works Bookstore, 202 Galisteo on Wednesday, April 29 at 6PM. In this talk Desirée explores Bryan Magee's book, The Tristan Chord, "the most famous single chord in the history of music." Desirée will discuss different philosophical approaches to Tristan und Isolde, a love story that has mesmerized generations of opera goers. She will discuss the life of Richard Wagner at the time of the composition of the opera, and his relationship with Mathilde Wesendonck, his muse and intimate friend. Desirée Mays continues to lecture states-wide on opera, currently at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, and to Wagner Societies in San Francisco and Los Angeles. She also gives talks at Collected Works before MET Live in HD screenings at The Lensic.

SAVE THE DATE│BACKSTAGE PREVIEW

Mark your calendars for Saturday, April 18. That’s the day that the Santa Fe Opera Guild will present its annual Backstage Preview, featuring stage, costume, and prop designs for the 2020 festival season. The event takes place at Stieren Hall from 11:00AM to 1:00PM. You will not want to miss this event, one of the highlights of the year. Seating is limited and attendees must be members of the Guild. Watch your inbox for an announcement when registration becomes available.

RENESAN FEATURES OPERA LECTURES

IFAN PAYNE: STAGING OPERA INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BOX MONDAY, MARCH 2, 3:15PM – 5:15PM

MARK TIARKS: THE SANTA FE OPERA 2020 SEASON THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 19, 26; APRIL 2, 9, 10AM-NOON

RENESAN INSTITUTE FOR LIFELONG LEARNING ST. JOHN’S UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 1200 OLD PECOS TRAIL

Following last year’s successful collaboration with the Santa Fe Opera Guild, The ABC’s of Opera, RENESAN has included two opera lectures in the Spring, 2020 curriculum. The following course descriptions are excerpted from the Spring Catalogue. Staging Opera Inside and Outside the Box: The recent Santa Fe Opera production of Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte on an almost bare stage seems to have split the audience with strongly held, passionately expressed views both for and against the production. The changing styles of opera production will be explored from Jacopo Peri’s candle-lit Dafne of 1597 to the video and electronic productions of today. Using visual and video illustrations, we will explore the history of opera production and compare the various ways in which directors have staged operas. Some are intended to mainly illustrate the opera, others have left the context to the imagination. Some directors place their operas in a particular time and place, others attempt to create an experience that is timeless and universally relevant. Should an opera production be narrative-based, placed in a particular location, or should the production be based on the interactions between the characters? Or should it be a showcase for the music and performers? How do these approaches relate to the composer’s intentions, and should it matter? Ifan Payne has a BA in Architecture with a Bachelor’s thesis on Adaptable Theatres, and a PhD in Architectural Psychology. He has been a prolific performing arts critic with over 2000 published articles in the United States and United Kingdom encompassing opera and theater productions on two continents as well as classical, popular, and jazz concerts, and reviewed recordings of music of almost every genre. The Santa Fe Opera Season 2020: This is a five-session course, with one for each production in the 2020 Santa Fe Opera season. All sessions will feature audio and video excerpts, extensive visual imagery, and a behind-the-scenes look at each opera’s gestation. The Barber of Seville (Rossini) What’s a lovelorn Count to do when he hopes to win the hand of the clever Rosina? He enlists the help of Figaro, the Barber of Seville, who can untangle any knotty problem. The Magic Flute (Mozart): A serpent, a bird catcher, and a magic flute send Prince Tamino on a quest to rescue his Princess Pamina. Will her mother, the Queen of the Night, be able to stop him? Tristan und Isolde (Wagner): One of the most epic love stories ever told, starting with the famous chords that changed music forever. Rusalka (Dvorak): A young water nymph risks everything for love when she marries a human prince. M. Butterfly (Hwang and Ruo) (World Premier): A French diplomat falls in love with a beautiful Chinese opera singer, but she holds shocking secrets which eventually bring him ruin. Broadway’s smash hit is transformed to operatic form. Music by Huang Ruo, libretto by David Henry Hwang, based on his 1988 play which won the Tony Award for Best Play. Mark Tiarks was Santa Fe Opera’s Director of Planning and Marketing for 11 seasons. His most recent RENESAN course was “The Music of Kurt Weill: From ‘Mack the Knife’ to ‘September Song’ ” in Fall, 2019. While both lectures are in March, RENESAN registration is open now. To register for either or both RENESAN classes click here.

OPERA MAKES SENSE FAMILY CONCERTS

Opera Makes Sense was created for children ages 3 to 5, to explore the world of opera through a variety of activities and games addressing the different developmental levels of toddlers. Participants move from one station to another based upon their personal interest level. Opera is translated through the five senses through the use of poetry, songs, music and dance, with costumes and art activities related to scenery and props. In partnership with Santa Fe Public Library, Mesa Public Library, Santa Fe Children’s Museum, and Georgia O’Keeffe Museum. All events take place from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM.

Saturday, February 1│La Farge Library 1730 Llano Street Santa Fe, NM 87505

Saturday, February 8│Main Library 145 Washington Ave Santa Fe, NM 87501

Saturday, February 15, 22 │Southside Library 6599 Jaguar Drive Santa Fe, NM 87507

Saturday, February 29 │Mesa Public Library 2400 Central Ave Los Alamos, NM 87544

VIVACE BOOK GROUP

MONDAY, MARCH 9, 6:15PM - 7:30PM PRE-DISCUSSION SOCIAL 5:45PM COLLECTED WORKS 202 GALISTEO STREET, SANTA FE COMPLIMENTARY FOR GUILD MEMBERS, NONMEMBERS $5 Monday, March 9: A devastating depiction of obsessive love and a haunting portrait of a captivating but dangerous woman! When the young Chevalier des Grieux first sets eyes on the exquisitely beautiful and charming Manon Lescaut they fall passionately in love. But his happiness turns to bitter despair when he discovers that Manon is mercenary and immoral, and has taken a rich lover to pay for their life of pleasure. A broken man, he swears to stay away from her, but cannot. Just as the Chevalier is helpless to end their relationship, so Manon is incapable of giving up the source of her income, and the lovers enter a destructive cycle that can only end in tragedy. The 2019-2020 Metropolitan Opera season includes two operas based on Prévost’s novel - Massenet's Manon and Puccini's Manon Lescaut. The novel is also the subject of two lesser- known operas – Manon Lescaut by Daniel Auber and Boulevard Solitude by Hans Werner Henze. And it’s even the subject of a film, Manon 70, starring Catherine Deneuve. We suggest that you read the Penguin edition, pictured here and available at Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse.

THE MET: LIVE IN HD

AGRIPPINA SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 29, 11:00AM │ENCORE PERFORMANCE, 6:00PM THE LENSIC PERFORMING ARTS CENTER 211 WEST SAN FRANCISCO STREET

RUNNING TIME: 3 HRS 50 MINS │ ACT I, 105 MINS; INTERMISSION, 30 MINS; ACT II, 95 MINS

Sir David McVicar brings a contemporary production of Handel’s dark, yet comedic opera, Agrippina to The Metropolitan Opera. Sir David believes that the prevailing themes embedded in Agrippina are relevant throughout history: ambition, lust, unbridled power, revenge, and murder. The acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Joyce DiDonato is Agrippina, the treacherous empress who murdered her husband the Emporer Claudius and was mother to Nerone, the infamous Emporer we know as Nero who in his turn, murdered her. Mezzo-soprano, Kate Lindsey is Nerone. This talented, young singer is the lead article in this month’s issue of Opera News, and is featured in Apprentice Watch. The rest of the talented cast includes soprano Brenda Ray as Poppea, bass Matthew Rose as Emperor Claudius, countertenor Iestyn Davies as Ottone, and baritone Duncan Rock as Pallante. Conductor Harry Bickets leads the orchestra. Tickets for all The Met: Live in HD performances are available at the Lensic box office or by calling (505)988-1234. To learn more about the production, cast, and to view videos of Agrippina, click here to be directed to the Met: Live in HD website.

BREAKFAST LECTURES

Don’t miss the Breakfast Lectures at Collected Works Bookstore & Coffeehouse before Saturday morning performances of The Met: Live in HD. The café opens at 8:00AM. Please plan to arrive at least 30 minutes before the lecture begins to secure a seat and purchase breakfast goodies. Breakfast Lectures precede every The Met: Live in HD broadcast at the Lensic. The February talks takes place at 9:30AM. On Saturday, February 29, Handel’s Agrippina debuts at The Met: Live in HD. Robert Glick will guide participants through the finer points of the opera. Robert offered insight into Agrippina when he stated “Since Handel's Agrippina is not part of the regular opera repertory, for many in the HD telecast audience the opera will be unfamiliar territory. But the experience may have a certain déjá vu feeling. Many of the characters will be old friends to those who know Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea, and the plot, which addresses both political intrigues at the highest echelons of imperial power and a mother who will stop at nothing to advance her child; the plots will seem to be--as the old movie trailers used to say—'ripped from today's headlines.’" There is a donation of $5 per person, check or cash. Collected Works is located one block from The Lensic at the corner of Galisteo and Water Street. Have your breakfast delivered to the Opera Talk! Menu items from Iconik’s Guadalupe Street location can be delivered to your table at the Opera Talk. Just email your name and food order to [email protected] by Friday morning, January 31. Click here to see the menu on Iconik’s website. The regular café menu of teas, coffees, pastries, and burritos will continue to be available at Collected Works.

APPRENTICE WATCH

Mezzo soprano Kate Lindsey is featured on the cover of the February 2020 issue of Opera News, highlighted for her upcoming role as Nerone in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Agrippina. She will share the stage with Joyce Di Donato, another famous alumna of the Santa Fe Opera’s Apprentice Singer program. Ms. Lindsey has recently released a recording titled Thousands of Miles. It is a collaboration with jazz pianist Baptiste Trotignon. A reviewer for Europadisc raved, “This is much more than just another Kurt Weill collection. [It is] one of the most compelling and striking song discs to have appeared in quite a while.” In the Noteworthy & Now section of March 2019 Opera News, she was featured for her concert performance of La Damnation de Faust under the baton of Emmanuel Krivine conducting the Orchestre National de France. She also sang the role of the Composer in Ariadne Auf Naxos in Paris at the Théâtre des Champs-Elysées.

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS

With the greatest pleasure, we welcome Nancy Baker and Trina Thomas to the Santa Fe Opera Guild. We look forward to meeting you at our programs and events and we thank you for joining us.

FEBRUARY MEMBERS: IT’S TIME TO RENEW When your renewal comes due, you will receive an email alert. Renew by clicking RENEW NOW! We accept four major credit cards and PayPal, or mail a check to The Santa Fe Opera Guild, Membership, P.O. Box 2371, Santa Fe, NM,87504 - 2371. You can renew at any of our upcoming events. Send membership questions via email to Leslie Veditz at [email protected], or telephone her at (888)666-3430 ext. 502. The Membership Committee will send your membership tax receipts and membership cards to you by email. Those of you without email will continue to receive these communications by US mail. If you do not have a printer at home or if you still prefer a hardcopy tax letter and membership card, you can get these at any of our education events.

DIVERSIONS

Theatre Santa Fe lists the following offerings this month: The Stage Santa Fe: Open House (2/1, 3:00PM-5:00PM, 3209 Mercantile Court, Unit B); The Merchant of Venice (2/1, 7:00PM, The Swan); Fiddler on the Roof (2/6-2/9, 7:00PM, James A. Little Theater); Hummingbird (2/7-2/23, various times, Teatro Paraguas); Fools (2/13-2/15, various times, James A. Little Theater); Buttermilk, A Story of Love and Insanity (2/16, 7:00PM, Teatro Paraguas); Winter Dances (2/21-2/22, 7:00PM, James A. Little Theater). For more information, click here. Opera Southwest presents Il Postino on: Sunday, February 2 at 2:00PM; Friday, February 7 at 7:30PM; and Sunday, February 9 at 2:00PM at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque. Based on Michael Radford’s film and Antonio Skarmeta’s book, the opera tells the story of a modest postman who strikes up an unlikely friendship with renown poet, Pablo Neruda, who is living in seclusion on the Mediterranean near the postman’s town. The music and libretto are by Daniel Catán. Guillermo Figueroa will conduct, and the director is Crystal Manich. Pablo Neruda will be sung by Raul Melo and Mario Ruoppolo, the postman, will be sung by Alex Richardson. The opera will be sung in Spanish with English supertitles. For more information and tickets, click here. The Santa Fe Symphony presents a Strata performance from its new chamber music series on Saturday, February 1 at 7:00PM at Saint Francis Auditorium, New Mexico Museum of Art. On the bill: Beethoven’s Quintet in C Major, Op. 29; Del Águila’s La Vida es sueño (Life is a Dream), Op. 76; and Tchaikovsky’s String Sextet in D Minor, Op. 70 (“Souvenir de Florence”). David Felberg and Nicolle Maniaci play violin, Guillermo Figueroa and Kim Fredenburgh play viola, Dana Winograd and Joe Bechtell play cello. For more information and tickets, click here. The Aspen Santa Fe Ballet presents From Brazil! Grupo Corpo on Tuesday, February 4 at 7:30PM at The Lensic. This boundary-breaking company, known for its precision, boundless energy and “loose-limbed muscularity,” will perform Dança Sinfônica, created to celebrate its 40th anniversary in 2015, and Gira, a journey through dance into Afro-Brazilin religions. For more information click here, for tickets call (505)988-1234. WildEarth Guardians presents Mountainfilm on Tour on Thursday, February 6 at 7:00PM at The Lensic. Selected shorts from Telluride’s Mountainfilm Festival will be screened. For more information and tickets click here. The Lensic presents International Guitar Night on Friday, February 7 at 7:30PM at The Lensic. Considered the world’s premiere guitar touring festival, IGN is currently composed of Mike Dawes (contemporary, England); Olli Soikkeli (jazz, Finland); Cenk Erdoğan (fretless, Turkey); and Jim Kimo West (slack key, Hawaii). For more information click here, for tickets call (505)988-1234. The Santa Fe Community Orchestra presents New Works by New Mexico Composers on Friday, February 7 at 7:00PM at Saint John’s United Methodist Church in Fellowship Hall, 1200 Old Pecos Trail, Santa Fe. This is an opportunity to hear the latest works of composers from around the state in an open rehearsal format. Admission is free. The Santa Fe Jewish Film Festival and National Theatre Live present The Lehman Trilogy on Saturday, February 8 at 7:00PM at The Lensic. Santa Fe’s Jewish Film Festival continues with this screening, which stars Simon Russell Beale, Adam Godley and Ben Miles; the director is Sam Mendes. This is the story of the Bavarian immigrant family that built the famous investment firm. Lehman Brothers’ 163-year history had a spectacular collapse as its finale. For tickets call (505)988-1234 or click here. The remaining Festival offerings are: The Trials of J. Robert Oppenheimer on Sunday, March 1 at 2:00PM at The Screen, Special Guest Rabbi Paul Citrin will appear (to reserve, send an email to [email protected]); and Oliver Sacks: His Own Life on Sunday, March 15 at 4:00PM at The Screen (to reserve, call (505)982-1338). Performance Santa Fe presents Alicia Olatuja on Tuesday, February 11 at 7:30PM at The Lensic. The acclaimed jazz vocalist - whose rich mezzo carries her through the full spectrum from opera to gospel, soul, and pop - took the world by storm with her performance at President Obama’s second inauguration. Her latest album, Songs from the Minds of Women, celebrates the achievements of a long list of women composers. For more information click here, for tickets call (505)988- 1234 or (505)984-8759. The Russian Film Society presents a screening of The Haunted Manor on February 11 at 1:00PM at Teatro Paraguas. This comic Opera from Polish composer Stanislaw Moniusko is popular in its homeland, but not elsewhere. This 2018 production, staged at the Polish National Opera in Warsaw, commemorated the 100th anniversary of the composer’s birth. A contribution of $5 is requested to offset expenses. Reservations are required: please send an email to [email protected]. RENESAN Institute will offer The Roots and Rise of 1960s Soul Music with instructor, Dick Rosemont on Thursday, February 13 from 3:15-5:15PM. To enroll in this class, click here. The Santa Fe Symphony presents New Worlds! on Sunday, February 16 at 1:00PM at The Lensic. Guest Conductor Nir Kabaretti will take the podium for: V. Williams’ Tuba Concerto with soloist Richard White; Del Aguila’s Violin Concert,o El Viaje de una vida (The Journey of a Lifetime) with Guillermo Figueroa, soloist; and Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9 (“From the New World”). For more information, click here, for tickets call (505)988-1234. Performance Santa Fe presents The King’s Singers on Saturday, February 22 at 7:30PM at The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, 131 Cathedral Place, Santa Fe. This superlative vocal sextet (two countertenors, one tenor, two baritones and one bass) will perform its program, Love Songs, which features 500 years of diverse composers from around the world. For more information click here, for tickets call (505)984-8759.

Santa Fe Pro Musica presents the Brentano String Quartet with Cellist Wilhelmina Smith on Sunday, February 23 at 3:00PM at Saint Francis Auditorium, New Mexico Museum of Art. The program: The New Mexico Premiere of Mackey’s Joy Rhythm Study and Schubert’s Quintet in C Major, D. 956. There will be a free lecture with the Quartet at 10:00AM on the 23rd in the Auditorium. For more information and tickets click here. Santa Fe Institute Community Lectures presents Rajiv Sethi – Crime and Punishment in the Shadows of Doubt on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:00PM at The Lensic. Sethi, Professor of Economics at Barnard College, Columbia University, will examine how stereotypes play too prominent a role in how crimes are prosecuted. Registration is required though tickets are free. For more information click here or call (505)988-1234. The Lannan Foundation presents Millie and Christine - McKoy Sisters’ Syncopated Sonnets on Wednesday, February 26 at 7:00PM at The Lensic. Tyehimba Jess, who wrote the text to this musical presentation, is the Pulitzer-Prize-winning poet of Olio, in which he tells the story of the enslaved and conjoined McKoy sisters. They became such a musical sensation that eventually they purchased their “home” plantation. Poet and musician, Janice A. Lowe, who has composed five full-length musicals and many songs for all types of theater including opera, is the composer of, and will conduct, this evening’s program. For more information click here, for tickets call (505)988-1234. The Lensic presents the New Mexico Black History Festival: Kumbuka Celebration on Friday, February 28 at 7:30PM at The Lensic. This celebration is about remembering our ancestors, those whom we have loved and lost. This multimedia program will include song, readings and dance. It is asked that audience members wishing to participate bring photos of their lost loved ones. For more information and tickets click here or call (505)988-1234. The Desert Chorale presents Strength and Refuge: A Joyous Exploration of the Psalms on Friday, February 28 at 4:00PM at Temple Beth Shalom (205 East Barcelona), Santa Fe. The Chorale will also perform this program in Albuquerque on Saturday, February 29 at 2:00PM (Cathedral of Saint John, (318 Silver Avenue SW). For more information and tickets click here or call (505)988-2282. The Santa Fe Community Orchestra presents its Mid-Season Concert on Sunday, March 1 at 2:30PM at the James A. Little Theater, New Mexico School for the Deaf. With the direction of SFCO’s Music Director, Oliver Prezant, the Orchestra will play Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 and Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 1 (Jerry Weimer, soloist). In addition, there will be a Side-by- Side Performance of the SFCO with El Camino Real Academy Band. Admission is free, and donations are welcome. For more information, click here. The New Mexico Performing Arts Society presents NMPAS Cantata Series 1 on Sunday, March 1 at 5:30PM at Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel (50 Mount Carmel Road), Santa Fe. The program is as follows: J. S. Bach’s Trio Sonata in D Major for Oboe and Keyboard, as well as his Cantata BWV 30, Freue dich, erloste (Rejoice, redeemed flock). For more information and tickets click here.

THE GUILDS OF THE SANTA FE OPERA, INC. P.O. Box 2371, Santa Fe, NM 87504-2371 Find us on the internet at GuildsofSFO.org/SF. Operagram Editor: [email protected] Santa Fe Opera Guild President: Martha Baker, [email protected] (888) 666-3430, Ext. 501 VP for Membership: Leslie Veditz, [email protected] (888) 666-3430, Ext. 502