The Santa Fe Opera

TO FOSTER AND ENRICH AN UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF THE OPERATIC ART FORM.

ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT SUMMER FESTIVALS, THE SANTA FE OPERA IS PRAISED FOR ITS INNOVATIVE REPERTORY AND HIGH STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE. AFTER THE CANCELLATION OF THE 2020 SEASON DUE TO STATE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS LIMITING MASS GATHERINGS AND PUBLIC PERFORMANCES, THE 2021 OPERA SEASON RETURNED WITH LIMITED SEATING AND A MODIFIED SEASON. THERE WERE APPROXIMATELY 39,648 ATTENDEES OF THE 2021 SEASON IN THE THEATER, AND AN ADDITIONAL 455 ATTENDEES AT SIMULCASTS OF THE OPERA SHOWN IN THE PARKING LOT OF THE CROSBY THEATER. THE 2021 SEASON INCLUDED A TOTAL OF 27 PERFORMANCES OF FOUR FULLY STAGED OPERAS, INCLUDING: "THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO" BY WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART; THE WORLD PREMIERE OF "THE LORD OF CRIES," COMPOSED BY JOHN CORIGLIANO WITH LIBRETTO BY MARK ADAMO; "EUGENE ONEGIN," COMPOSED BY PYOTR ILYICH TCHAIKOVSKY; AND "A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM," COMPOSED BY BENJAMIN BRITTEN. IN ADDITION, THERE WERE TWO PERFORMANCES OF APPRENTICE SCENES PERFORMED BY THE SANTA FE OPERA SINGING APPRENTICES AND DESIGNED AND CREATED BY THE SANTA FE OPERA TECHNICAL APPRENTICES. FAMED SOPRANO ANGEL BLUE ALSO PERFORMED A CONCERT ON THE SANTA FE OPERA STAGE FEATURING SANTA FE SINGING APPRENTICES AS WELL AS BARITONE LUCAS MEACHEM.

THE SANTA FE OPERA'S EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAMS WERE MODIFIED THIS YEAR FOLLOWING PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS ISSUED IN MARCH 2020. DURING THE OPERA'S 2021 FISCAL YEAR, 58,593 INDIVIDUALS WERE SERVED IN-PERSON AND VIRTUALLY, INCLUDING 845 ADULTS AND 1,025 YOUTHS IN-PERSON. DURING THE FALL OF 2019, THE OPERA PRODUCED THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE INAUGURAL COMMISSION OF ITS OPERA FOR ALL VOICES PROGRAM, "SWEET POTATO KICKS THE SUN," COMPOSED BY AUGUSTA READ THOMAS WITH LIBRETTO BY LESLIE DUNTON-DOWNER. IN THE FALL OF 2020 A WORKSHOP PERFORMANCE OF THE THIRD COMMISSION, "THIS LITTLE LIGHT OF MINE/IS THIS AMERICA?" COMPOSED BY CHANDLER CARTER WITH A LIBRETTO BY DIANA SOLOMON-GLOVER FEATURING KEY MOMENTS FROM THE VOTING RIGHTS ACTIVIST FANNIE LOU HAMER WAS PRESENTED IN RED HOOK, BROOKLYN ON THE MOORED MARY K. WHALEN. THE PIECE WAS SUBSEQUENTLY PERFORMED BY STUDENTS AT FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY. BOTH PRESENTATIONS WERE STREAMED DIGITALLY. OTHER DIGITAL PROGRAMMING INCLUDED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL BACKSTAGE TOUR AND HOLIDAY CONCERT FILMED IN THREE HISTORIC NEW MEXICO CHURCHES. OTHER PROGRAMS, MANY OF WHICH REMAINED ON A DIGITAL FORMAT, INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: - "THE PUEBLO OPERA PROGRAM," WHICH TYPICALLY SERVES 19 PUEBLOS AND 3 RESERVATIONS. - STUDENTS IN ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL WHO PARTICIPATE IN THE "ACTIVE LEARNING THROUGH OPERA" PROGRAM WORK WITH ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE TO EXPLORE LEARNING THROUGH THE PERFORMING ARTS, OFTEN WRITING, PRODUCING, AND PERFORMING THEIR OWN OPERAS BOTH IN-SCHOOL AND AFTER SCHOOL ALONGSIDE TEACHERS RECEIVING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN ARTS INTEGRATION. - YOUNG VOICES AND YOUNG TECHNICIANS HIGH SCHOOL MASTERY PROGRAMS. - "OPERA MAKES SENSE," A CURATED INTRODUCTION FOR THREE- TO FIVE-YEAR-OLDS EXPLORING MUSIC THROUGH THEIR SENSES