Santa Fe Opera

July 1st thru Aug 27th 2011

The Santa Fe Opera (SFO) is an American opera company, located 7 miles (11 km) north of Santa Fe in the U.S. state of New Mexico, headquartered on a former guest ranch of 199 acres (0.81 km2). John Crosby, a New York-based conductor, founded SFO in 1956, originally as the Opera Association of New Mexico. His goal was to give American singers the opportunity to learn and perform new roles while having ample time for rehearsal and preparation. Its first season began on 3 July 1957.

SFO is internationally known for introducing new and innovative operas as well as for its productions of works from the standard operatic repertoire. Since its inception, the Santa Fe Opera has staged over forty American and eleven international premieres, and has commissioned nine new operas.

Crosby remained as general director, with the longest such tenure in US opera history, until 2000. He subsequently died in December 2002. Since 2000, Richard Gaddes has been SFO's General Director. In August 2007, Gaddes stated that he wished SFO to begin a search for his successor, with him remaining in the position until the hiring of SFO's next General Director. In November 2007, SFO named Charles MacKay the company's next general director to succeed Gaddes, effective 1 October 2008.

In addition to being SFO's founding General Director, Crosby had simultaneously served as SFO's de facto first principal conductor. Alan Gilbert became the company's first music director from 2003 to 2006. In May 2007, Santa Fe Opera announced that Gilbert had officially concluded his tenure as its music director, and that Kenneth Montgomery had been named interim music director.

Montgomery's tenure as interim music director concluded after the 2007 season. He is scheduled to continue as a guest conductor for three operas over the years 2008 to 2011. In July 2007, the Santa Fe Opera named Edo de Waart their chief conductor, effective 1 October 2007. His initial contract was for 4 years. However, in November 2008, SFO announced that de Waart would vacate the position before the end of his contract, no earlier than the end of the 2009 season. de Waart cited health and family reasons for this decision.

Many principal members of the Santa Fe Opera orchestra are members of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, of which Edo de Waart is the Music Director. These instruments include the harp, clarinet, and French horn.

Wikipedia

The Santa Fe Opera Theatre viewed from the south showing the unusual roof line and how it is supported. The white, sail-like wind baffles (centre, middle distance) are designed to limit rain from entering the theatre.-->Wikipedia

A really neat S-F Opera Stage Set Up with DraftPunk-->"Around The World"!