The following is a list of four of the five operas I am scheduled to review during the Santa Fe Opera’s 2023 Season. The fifth will be included on a later “Quest and Anticipations” list.
Tosca (Puccini), June 30, July 5, 8, 14, 21, August 1, 7, 12, 19, 23 and 26, 2023
British director Keith Warner creates a new Santa Fe Opera production of Puccini’s “Tosca”, which will open the 2023 season and be performed 11 times. The opening night cast features soprano Leah Hawkins as Tosca (and the performances of July 5 and 8 and August 12, 19, 23 and 26). Tenor Joshua Guerrero sings all performances through August 1.
Reginald Smith, Jr. (Scarpia) is scheduled for all 11 performances, as is Blake Denison as Angelotti, Dale Travis as the Sacristan, Spencer Hamlin as Spoletta, Ben Brady as Ssciarrone, Dylan Gregg as the Jailer ad Kai Edgar as the Shepherd Boy.
[Below: Leah Hawkins as Tosca; edited image, based on a Curtis Brown photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Angel Blue is Tosca July 14 and 21 and August 1 and 7. Freddie de Tommaso sings all performances from August 7 on. Maestro John Fiore conducts. Ashley Martin-Davis is Scenic and Costume Designer.
[For my review of another performance directed by Keith Warner, see: Review: San Francisco Opera’s “Elektra” – Goerke, Pieczonka in a Gory, Gloriously Sung Night at the Museum – September 9, 2017.]
[For my performance review, see: Review: A Well-Sung “Tosca” Starring Leah Hawkins, Joshua Guerrero, Reginald Smith, Jr. and Blake Denson – Santa Fe Opera, June 30, 2023.]
The Flying Dutchman (Wagner), July 1, 7, 12, 31, August 5, 10, 15 and 25, 2023
Director David Alden’s new Santa Fe Opera production of Wagner’s stars Nicholas Brownlee as the Dutchman, Elza van den Heaver as Santa, Richard Trey Smagur as Erik, Morris Robinson as Daland, Billie Bruley as the Steersman and Gretchen Krupp as Mary.
[Below: Nicholas Brownlee as the Dutchman; edited image, based on a Curtis Brown photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Maestro Thomas Guggeis conducts the first seven performances, Maestro Alden Gatt the final performance on August 25th. Paul Steinberg is Scenic designer. Constance Hoffman designs the costumes, Duane Schuller the lighting design. Maxine Braham is choreographer.
[For my reviews of David Alden’s most recent Santa Fe Opera productions, see: Review: Wilde, Racette, Lewis in Dramatically Intense, Melodic “Jenufa” – Santa Fe Opera, July 24, 2019 and Review: Santa Fe Opera’s “Alcina”: Beautifully Sung Enchantment – July 29, 2017.]
[For my performance review, see: .]
Pelleas et Melisande (Debussy), July 15, 19, 28, August 3, 9 and 18
Director Netia Jones, who created and directed the 2021 Santa Fe Opera production of Britten’s “Midsummer Nights’ Dream”, returns as director and costume and projection designer, for Debussy’s “Pelléas et Mélisande”. The opera stars Huw Montague Rendall as Pelléas and Samantha Hankey as Mélisande. Gihoon Kim is Golaud, Ain Anger is Arkel.
[Below: Director and Projections Designer Netia Jones; edited image from a Santa Fe Opera youtube.com.]
Susan Graham performs the role of Genevieve for the first five performances, Emma Rose Sorensen sings the final performance. Kai Edgar is Yniod, Ben Brady is the Physician, Brandon Bell a Shepherd. Maestro Harry Bicket conducts. D. M. Wood is lighting designer.
Rusalka (Dvorak), July 22, 26, Augusst 4, 8, 17 and 22, 2023
Ailyn Perez performs the title role of Dvorak’s melodic “Rusalka”. Robert Watson is the Prince. James Creswell is Rusalka’s father, Vodnik. Raehann Bryce-Davis is Jezibaba and Mary Elizabeth Williams is the Foreign Princess.
[Below: Vodnik, the water-gnome (James Creswell, left, in wheelchair) communicates with his daughter Rusalka (Ailyn Perez, in display cabinet, upper right); edited image of a Curtis Brown photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
Jorand Loyd is the Gamekeeper, Kaylee Nichols the Kitchen Boy and Spencer Reichman the Hunter. The Wood Sprites are Ilanah Lobel-Torres, Lydia Grindatto and Meridian Prall.
Maestra Lidiya Yankovskaya conducts, David Pountney directs. Leslie Travers creates the Scenic Design, Marie-Jeanne Lecca the costumes, and Malcom Rippeth the lighting. Nicola Bowie is choreographer.
[For my most recent performance reviews of David Pountney productions, see: Review: Explosive Ovations for Chicago’s Spectacular New “Siegfried” – Lyric Opera, November 3, 2018 and Review: Chicago’s Imaginative New “Walküre”: Goerke, Owens, Jovanovich, Strid Excel – Lyric Opera, November 30, 2017.]
[For my performance review, see: .Review: Ailyn Perez Leads Vocally Splendid Cast in Pountney’s Alternative Vision of “Rusalka” – Santa Fe Opera, July 26, 2023.]
Susanne Sheston is Chorus Master for all four operas.
This list is supplementary to previous lists in this “Quests and Anticipations” series of selected operas being performed through December 2023:
Frank’s and Cruz’ “El Ultimo Sueno de Frida y Diego” [See In Quest of 21st Century Operas.]
Puccini’s and Illica/Giacosa’s “Madama Butterfly” [See In Quest of San Francisco Opera Centennial Season Operatic Performances, October 2022 through July, 2023.]
Richard Strauss’ “Die Frau ohne Schatten”, Verdi’s “Il Trovatore”, Wagner’s “Lohengrin”, and Donizetti’e “L’Elisir d’Amore” [See In Quest of San Francisco Opera Centennial Year Performances.]