Every July and August since 1957, opera lovers have been drawn to the magnificent northern New Mexico mountains to enjoy productions by one of the world’s premier summer opera festivals. Here, the Santa Fe Opera’s dramatic adobe theater blends harmoniously with the high desert landscape. It is this fusion of nature and art that leaves such an enduring impression on all who come. More than half the audience of 85,000 comes from outside New Mexico, representing every state in the union as well as 25 to 30 foreign countries.
More than 2,000 performances of nearly 170 different operas have been given here, including 19 world premieres and over 45 American premieres, among them Lulu, The Cunning Little Vixen, Capriccio and Daphne. Recent [...]
Every July and August since 1957, opera lovers have been drawn to the magnificent northern New Mexico mountains to enjoy productions by one of the world’s premier summer opera festivals. Here, the Santa Fe Opera’s dramatic adobe theater blends harmoniously with the high desert landscape. It is this fusion of nature and art that leaves such an enduring impression on all who come. More than half the audience of 85,000 comes from outside New Mexico, representing every state in the union as well as 25 to 30 foreign countries.
More than 2,000 performances of nearly 170 different operas have been given here, including 19 world premieres and over 45 American premieres, among them Lulu, The Cunning Little Vixen, Capriccio and Daphne. Recent world premieres include Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain (2015), the GRAMMY-winning The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (2017) by Mason Bates, The Thirteenth Child by composer Poul Ruders and librettists Becky and David Starobin, The Lord of Cries (2021) by John Corigliano, M. Butterfly (2022) by Huang Ruo and world premiere of The Righteous (2024) by composer Gregory Spears and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Tracy K. Smith.
Casts are drawn from the world’s most talented singers, and production teams of conductors, directors and designers are international as well. Many singers whose names are now found on the rosters of the world’s leading opera houses began their careers in Santa Fe. They include William Burden, Joyce DiDonato, Michael Fabiano, Brandon Jovanovich, Kate Lindsey, Jay Hunter Morris, Susanna Phillips and numerous other opera luminaries.
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