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.
Santa Fe Opera
The Santa Fe Opera’s mission is to advance the operatic art form by presenting ensemble performances of the highest quality in a unique setting with a varied repertoire of new, rarely performed, and standard works; to ensure the excellence of opera’s future through apprentice programs for singers, technicians and arts administrators; and to foster an understanding and then appreciation of opera among a diverse public.
They feature more than 2,000 performances of nearly 170 different operas, including 19 world premieres and over 45 American premieres, among them Lulu, The Cunning Little Vixen, Capriccio and Daphne. Recent premieres include the world premiere of Madame Mao (2003) by Bright Sheng, the American premiere of Thomas Ades’s The Tempest (2006), the American premiere of Tan Dun’s Tea: A Mirror of Soul (2007), the world premiere of The Letter (2009) by Paul Moravec, the world premiere of Pulitzer Prize-winner Jennifer Higdon’s Cold Mountain (2015), the GRAMMY-winning world premiere of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs (2017) by Mason Bates and the world premiere of The Thirteenth Child by composer Poul Ruders and librettists Becky and David Starobin.
Volunteers provide a valuable resource for the Santa Fe Opera and their commitment is a great compliment to the company. From seasonal to year-round opportunities, there are many ways to volunteer on and off site!
Help the opera maintain a balanced budget and stay true to our original mission: presenting world-class productions, training apprentice singers and technicians and also developing future audiences by making a gift to our Annual Fund. Maximize your individual contribution through your employer’s Matching Gift Program.
Story and Photography by Santa Fe Opera
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