The following is a list of the first four of five performances that I am scheduled to review at the Santa Fe Opera in Summer, 2025:
La Boheme (Puccini), Santa Fe Opera, June 27, July 2, 5, 11, 18, 28, August 2, 6, 14, 19 and 23, 2025.
A production of Puccini’s most popullar opera, “La Boheme”, created by means of one of the frequent collaborations of director James Robinson and scenic designer Allen Moyer, opens the Santa Fe Opera’s 2025 season. “Boheme”.
Texas soprano Sylvia D’Eramo performs the role of Mimi and Pennsylvania soprano Emma Marhefka (a 2025 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice) performs the role of Musetta. In their Santa Fe Opera debuts, Chinese tenor Long Long is Rodolfo and Polish baritone Szymon Mechlinkski is Marcello.
[Photo: Rodolfo (Long Long, left) is with Mimi (Sylvia d’Eramo) i; edited image, based on a Curtis Brown photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
California baritone Efrain Solis, who makes his Santa Fe Opera debut as Schaunard, sings all the performance through August 6th. Performing Schaunard respectively for the performances of August 14 through 23 is Canadian baritone (and 2025 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice) Korin Thomas-Smith.
District of Columbia bass Soloman Howard is Colline. Tennessee bass Kevin Burdette is Benoit and Alcindoro. Others in the opera’s cast include 2025 Santa Fe Opera artists Puerto Rico tenor Angel Vargas, New Hampshire bass-baritone Evan Lazdowski, Missouri baritone Randell McGee and Canadian tenor Jacob Abrahamse
Mexican conductor Maestro Ivan Lopez Reynoso makes his United States and Santa Fe Opera debuts. Utah director Suzanne Sheston leads the Santa Fe Opera Chorus. New York designer Constance Hoffman created the costumes.
This is the fifth Santa Fe Opera season that Robinson and Moyer have teamed up for a production. In addition to these collaborative efforts, Robinson has directed three other works for this theater, and Moyer has designed the sets for five others.
[iFor my performance review, see: Review: Memorable “La Boheme” Led by Sylvia D’Eramo, Long Long, Szymon Mechlinski and Emma Marhefka, Santa Fe Opera, July 28, 2025]
[For my performance review of a Sylvia d’Eramo performance, see: Review: Strong Vocal Performances by Isabel Leonard, Michael Fabiano, Sylvia d’Eramo and Michael Sumuel for Director Miriame Clement’s Idiosyncratic Production -“Carmen”, Santa Fe Opera, August 2, 2022.]
Le Nozze di Figaro (Mozart), Santa Fe Opera, June 28, July 4, 9, 31, August 4, 9, 12 , 16 and 22, 2025.
French director Laurent Pelly’s 2021 Santa Fe Opera production of Mozart’s “The Marriage of Figaro” returns for another season, providing a vehicle for the Santa Fe Opera debuts of six artists. Italian bass Riccardo Fassi is Figaro. French baritone Florian Sempey and Spanish soprano Marina Monzo are the Count and Countess Almaviva and Italian bass-baritone Maurizio Muraro is Bartolo. American artists in their Santa Fe Opera debut seasons are Illinois mezzo-soprano Lucy Schaufer as Marcellina and New York tenor Steven Cole as Don Basilio.
Principal artists returning to Santa Fe Opera are Minnesota soprano Liv Redpath as Susanna and Chinese mezzo-soprano Hongni Wu as Cherubino.
[Photo: a scene from the 2021 Laurent Pelly production of “Nozze di Figaro”; edited image, based on a Curtis Brown photograph, courtesy of the Santa Fe Opera.]
2025 Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singers performing roles in the opera are District of Columbia tenor Andrew Bearden Brown as Don Curzio, Georgia soprano Moriah Berry as the First Bridesmaid and New York mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson Zaros as the Second Bridesmaid.
As he did for the 2021 “Nozze”, Maestro Harry Bicket conducts. Director Pelly, whose Santa Fe Opera premiere production took place 22 years ago, has created the staging and costumes for seven productions presented during nine seasons, many in collaboration with his scenic designer, Chantal Thomas.
[For my performance review, see: Review: Ailyn Perez Joins Santa Fe Opera’s Excellent “Le Nozze di Figaro” Cast – July 31, 2025.]
[For my performance review of the premiere of this production, see: Review: A Clockwork “Marriage of Figaro” Delights – Santa Fe Opera, July 23, 2021.]
Rigoletto (Verdi), Santa Fe Opera, July 12, 16, 25, 29, August 7, 15 and 20, 2025
Swiss director Julien Chavaz makes his Santa Fe Opera presenting his vision of Verdi’s “Rigoletto”, with sets created by his frequent collaborator, English designer Jamie Vartan.
In his Santa Fe Opera debut, Pennsylvania baritone Michael Chioldi performs the title role. Also debuting are South Korean bass Stephano Park as Sparafucile and Brazilian mezzo-soprano Marcela Rahal as Maddalena. Returning artists include South Korean tenor Duke Kim as the Duke of Mantua, Cuban-American soprano Elena Villalón as Gilda and Chinese bass-baritone Le Bu as Count Monterone.
[Photo: Rigoletto (Michael Chioldi, here at the Irish National Opera) in the title role in Julien Chavaz’ prouction of Verdi’s “Riogoletto” with Jamie Vartan’s set design; photograph, edited image, based on a Patrick Redmond photograph for the Irish Nationa Opera.]
2025 Santa Fe Opera apprentices performing comprimario roles are Texas tenor Ryan Bryce Johnson as Borsa, Illinois baritone Ryan Wolfe as Marullo, Canadian baritone Korin Thomas-Smith as Count Ceprano, Colorado mezzo-soprano Kayla Nanto as Countess Ceprano, Canadian mezzo-soprano Simona Genga as Giovanna, New York mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson Zaros as a Page and New Hampshire bass-baritone Evan Lazdowski as a Court Usher.
Italian Maestro Carlo Montanaro conducts the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and Chorus (the latter led by Utah Chorus Master Suzanne Shelson)
[For my performance review, see: Review: A Well-Sung “Rigoletto”, starring Michael Chioldi, Elena Villalón and Duke Kim – Santa Fe Opera, July 29, 2025.]
The Turn of the Screw (Britten), Santa Fe Opera, July 19, 23,, August 1 and 5, 2025.
English composer Benjamin Britten’s mysterious opera, based on a novella by English author Henry James, was first seen in Santa Fe Opera’s 1983 season. 42 years later the opera returns in a production created by the team of Rhode Island director Louisa Muller and English director Christopher Oram, whose production of Verdi’s “La Traviata” opened Santa Fe Opera’s 2024 season.
The six member cast consists of the four adult roles – each sung by returning Santa Fe Opera artists – the Governess, sung by Pennsylvania soprano Jacquelyn Stucker; the Prologue and Peter Quint, roles sung by Maryland tenor Brenton Ryan; Mrs. Grose, sung by Maryland mezzo-soprano Jennifer Johnson Cano and Miss Jessel, sung by California soprano Wendy Bryn Harmer. The two children roles are sung by Texas treble Everett Baumgarten as Miles and Texas soprano Annie Blitz as Flora.
Debuting as conductor is New Zealand Maestra Gemma New.
[Photo: a scene from the Garsington Opera production of “The Turn of the Screw”,edited image, based on a Julian Guidera photograph for the Garsington Opera.]
[For my performance review, see: An Elegant Production for Britten’s Ghostly “Turn of the Screw” – Santa Fe Opera, August 1, 2025
[For my review of two 21st century productions of “The Turn of the Screw” see: Review: Houston’s Haunting, Inscrutable “Turn of the Screw” – January 29, 2010 and Review: Countdown to Britten Centennial – Conlon, Racette and Burden Impress in Enigmatic “Turn of the Screw” – Los Angeles Opera, March 12, 2011.]
[For my review of a previous Santa Fe Opera Louisa Muller productionm see: Review: Season Opening “Traviata” Displays Soprano Mane Galoyan’s Glorious Violetta – Santa Fe Opera, June 28, 2024.]