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.