Santa Fe Opera facts for kids
Santa Fe Opera's Crosby Theatre
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| Address | 301 Opera Drive Santa Fe, New Mexico United States |
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| Coordinates | 35°45′50″N 105°56′49″W / 35.7640°N 105.9470°W |
| Capacity | 2128 plus 106 standees |
| Current use | performing arts center |
| Construction | |
| Opened | July 3, 1957 |
| Rebuilt | 1968, 1998 |
| Architect | 1998 rebuild: James Polshek |
The Santa Fe Opera (SFO) is an American opera company. It is located about 7 miles (11 km) north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.
In 1956, John Crosby created the Opera Association of New Mexico. He then oversaw the building of the first opera house. It was built on a large piece of land that used to be a guest ranch. The company has put on operas every summer since July 1957. It is known around the world for showing new operas. It also performs many classic operas. Each summer, five different operas are presented.
Since it started, the Santa Fe Opera has shown 45 American premieres. This means they were the first to perform these operas in the United States. They have also shown 18 world premieres. Some of these include Emmeline, The Tempest, and The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
Contents
The Opera's Story
John Crosby, a conductor from New York, started the Santa Fe Opera in 1956. His parents helped him by providing money. This money was used to buy the land and build the first opera house. One of Crosby's main goals was to help American singers. He wanted them to learn new roles and have plenty of time to practice. This was part of a summer festival where five operas were performed.
The first season began on July 3, 1957. The first show was Puccini's Madama Butterfly. The theater could hold almost 500 people. John Crosby was the general director until 2000. This was the longest time anyone has held that job in US opera history.
After Crosby, Richard Gaddes was the general director from 2000 to 2008. Then, Charles MacKay took over in 2008 and stayed until 2018. In 2018, Robert K. Meya became the current general director.
Many conductors have led the Santa Fe Opera. John Crosby was the main conductor for a long time. Later, Alan Gilbert became the first official music director in 2003. Other important conductors have included Edo de Waart and Harry Bicket. Harry Bicket is now the music director.
What Operas Are Performed?
The Santa Fe Opera season runs every year. It starts in late June or early July. It ends in the third week of August. During this time, five different operas are performed.
From the very beginning, John Crosby had a plan for the shows. Usually, two popular operas would start the season. There was often a new American opera or a world premiere. These new works were sometimes specially ordered by the company. Crosby loved the operas of Richard Strauss. So, he often included one of Strauss's works. For example, in 1964, they performed the US premiere of Strauss's Daphne. The fifth opera was often a rare or less-known work. This same idea is still used today.
The Santa Fe Opera has shown many modern operas for the first time in the US. These include The Tempest (2006) by Thomas Adès. They also premiered Adriana Mater by Kaija Saariaho. World premieres have included Cold Mountain (2015) by Jennifer Higdon. In 2017, they premiered The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs by Mason Bates. In 2022, they showed M. Butterfly, a new version of Madama Butterfly.
In 2021, the Santa Fe Opera opened its season after the pandemic. They added a new job: Covid Compliance and Safety Manager. This person helped create rules to keep everyone safe. They also broadcast dress rehearsals and shows outside. People could watch from their cars like a drive-in movie. In 2021, they put on four shows. The next year, they went back to five shows.
Opera Leaders
General Directors
- John Crosby (1957–2000)
- Richard Gaddes (2000–2008)
- Charles MacKay (2008–2018)
- Robert Meya (2018–present)
Conductors in Leadership
- John Crosby (1957–2000, main conductor for many years)
- Alan Gilbert (2003–2006, Music Director)
- Edo de Waart (2007–2009, Chief Conductor)
- Harry Bicket (2013–2018, Chief Conductor; 2018-present, Music Director)
Apprentice Programs
In his first year, John Crosby started the Apprentice Singer Program. Young singers were given money for living expenses. They were also paid to sing in the chorus. They could also learn and practice major roles. This program helped young singers move from school to a professional career. Over 1,500 singers have been part of this program.
Crosby said that young artists in America needed a way to get experience. He felt this program would help them work with older, more experienced singers.
In 1965, the Apprentice Program for Technicians was added. This program teaches young people how to work backstage. Both programs offer hands-on experience. They also have classes and workshops. Singers get coaching for their voice, music, and acting. Technical apprentices learn about stage operations, costumes, lighting, and more.
Today, about 1,000 young singers and 600 technicians apply each year. In 2014, 43 singers and almost 90 technical apprentices worked at the opera. The Santa Fe Opera is the only opera house in the US with a large budget that has a technician apprentice program.
The apprentice singers form the chorus for each opera. They also perform smaller roles. Sometimes, they even step in to perform a main role if a contracted singer cannot.
The technical apprentices do many jobs backstage. They work with costumes, scenery, lights, and props. They help change the stage between the five different operas. They also help during live shows. At the end of the summer, they can apply for staff jobs for "Apprentice Scenes." This is a special show for the apprentice singers. The technical apprentices can be lighting designers, stage supervisors, and more. There is even a program for local high school students.
Famous Past Apprentices
Many famous American opera singers were once apprentices at Santa Fe Opera.
- Sopranos: Susanna Phillips, Judith Blegen, Joyce El-Khoury.
- Mezzos: Joyce DiDonato, Michelle DeYoung.
- Tenors: Carl Tanner, William Burden, Neil Shicoff.
- Baritones: David Gockley, Sherrill Milnes.
- Basses: James Morris, Samuel Ramey.
Many former apprentices have returned to sing major roles. For example, Joyce DiDonato sang in Cendrillon in 2006. Carl Tanner performed in Turandot in 2005.
The Opera Theaters
The Santa Fe Opera has had three different theaters. All of them have been built on the same spot. This spot is on a high flat area called a mesa. The audience faces west. This means they can see beautiful sunsets and even thunderstorms during shows. In the first two theaters, bad weather sometimes caused shows to be canceled. The current theater, the Crosby Theater, was built to improve acoustics and seating. It also helps protect from the weather.
The Santa Fe Opera theaters are special in a few ways.
- There is no "fly system." This means scenery cannot be lowered from above.
- There is no proscenium arch. This means there is no curtain. Also, there are no screens above the stage for surtitles (translations).
- The sides of the theater are open. The back of the stage can also be fully opened. This gives amazing views to the west.
Shows start close to sunset. This way, the stage lighting looks good even with the open sides. Since 2011, shows start earlier, at 8:30 PM. This gives people time to enjoy the New Mexico sunsets. Many people also enjoy tailgate dining before the show.
First Theater (1957–1967)
The first theater was completely open-air. It was designed to hold 480 people. It cost $115,000 to build. John Crosby and an expert chose the perfect spot for sound. They even fired rifle shots to test the acoustics! It was "the only outdoor theatre in America exclusively designed for opera." The audience sat on benches.
The first show was on July 3, 1957. Madama Butterfly was sold out. By the end of the season, 90% of tickets were sold.
In 1965, more seating was added. But on July 27, 1967, a fire destroyed the theater. The company had to move to a local high school gym. They called it the "Sweeney Opera House." They finished the season there. A lot of money was raised to rebuild the theater. Igor Stravinsky helped with the fundraising. $2.4 million was collected. The new theater was ready for the next season.
Second Theater (1968–1997)
The second theater was also open-air. It could seat 1,889 people. It opened on June 26, 1968. Like the first opening, it also featured Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.
This new theater had a roof that was partly open in the middle. The sides were also open. The back of the stage could open too. This gave amazing views of the sunset and the night sky.
Most of the backstage areas were built below the stage. This kept the views open. A large elevator, called the "B-Lift," was built behind the stage. It moves scenery up from the workshops or storage areas. This elevator is still used today.
Crosby Theatre (Since 1998)
The current theater is called the Crosby Theatre. It was named to honor John Crosby and his parents. It was designed by James Polshek.
The old theater's audience area was torn down in 1997. The stage and backstage areas stayed. The new theater was built in just ten months. It opened in July 1998. Like the previous openings, it featured Madama Butterfly.
The Crosby Theatre has fewer weather problems. It has a higher stage roof, which gives a better view. It seats 2,128 people, plus 106 who can stand. Even with more seats, it feels very close and personal. It has a wider roof that protects from the sky. The sides are still open. Wind baffles help block the wind. In 2019, a show was paused for 20 minutes due to bad weather. This was a rare event.
In 1999, an electronic translation system was added. Small screens in front of each seat show a two-line translation. You can choose English or Spanish. This system can even handle up to six languages.
Besides operas, the Crosby Theatre also hosts concerts. Bands like The B-52s and Wilco have played there.
Stieren Orchestra Hall
The Stieren Orchestra Hall was finished in 2001. It was built thanks to Arthur and Jane Stieren. This hall is used for orchestra rehearsals. It is also used for talks, concerts, and parties.
The main floor has lines on the ceiling. These show the exact size of the main stage. This helps with practicing with scenery. Large sliding doors allow scenery to be moved in. The upper floor has studios for singers to get coaching. The lower floor has a large, cool place to store costumes. The roof of Stieren Hall has 135 solar panels. The Santa Fe Opera is starting to use solar power.
Rehearsal Halls
There are eight rehearsal halls on the opera grounds. They range in size. Some are as big as the Crosby Theatre stage. Others are small studios for one-on-one coaching. The newest large hall is the Richard Gaddes Rehearsal Hall. It was finished in 2010. Another large hall, O'Shaughnessy Hall, was updated in 2012. The other halls allow several shows to be practiced at the same time.
Dapples Pavilion (New Cantina)
The old "cantina" (a dining hall) was torn down in 2007. A new one was built for the 2008 season. It has modern kitchens and serving areas. It also offers good protection from the rain. Its curved roof looks similar to the Crosby Theatre.
This building is now called the Dapples Pavilion. It is named after Florence Dapples, a long-time supporter. The cantina provides food and drinks for staff and artists. In the evenings, it hosts "Preview Buffet" dinners for the public. These dinners include a talk about the opera being performed that night.
See also
In Spanish: Ópera de Santa Fe para niños
- List of operas performed at The Santa Fe Opera
- List of opera festivals
