| Santa Fe Opera - Santa Fe | 2 May 2024 |
click here for a gallery of photos from recent productions
click here for more photos for
Click below forproduction trailers
Rusalka
Pelléas et Mélisande
L'Orfeo
Der Fliegende Holländer
Tosca
You've been granted free access to this page.
Take a FREE 7 DAY TRIAL or SUBSCRIBE today to access the full content of theoperacritic.com.
Free access
Performance reviews
| Key | 
Photo gallery
|
Production details
|
Video link
|
VanessaSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 15 | |
The hills are alive with the Santa Fe Opera |
 17 Aug 16 / The Huffington Post |
Santa Fe Opera’s elegant, disturbing ‘Vanessa’ |
| 16 Aug 16 / Communities Digital News |
The 2016 festival season at the Santa Fe Opera review |
| 10 Aug 16 / Wall Street Journal |
more reviews [+]
Hollywood noir |
| 8 Aug 16 / Planet Hugill |
Noir-fangled |
| 8 Aug 16 / TheaterJones |
SFO’s ‘Vanessa’ premieres with MacKay’s brilliant production team |
| 7 Aug 16 / LA Daily Post |
‘Vanessa’ shines despite libretto short of singable language |
| 7 Aug 16 / Albuquerque Journal |
An elegant production of Barber’s “Vanessa” |
| 6 Aug 16 / Opera Warhorses |
Barber's 'Vanessa' makes for a magical night |
| 5 Aug 16 / Dallas Morning News |
Vanessa: a winter storm in Santa Fe's desert |
| 4 Aug 16 / Bachtrack |
Samuel Barber’s wintry tale |
| 3 Aug 16 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Celebrating 60 with two rarities and Strauss (of course) |
| 2 Aug 16 / Washington Post |
Opera goes to the movies: SFO puts cinematic twist on ‘Vanessa’ |
| 1 Aug 16 / New Mexican |
Don GiovanniSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 13 | |
A grand start to my Santa Fe visit |
| 23 Aug 16 / Musical Toronto |
Don Giovanni as opera buffa with an edge |
| 22 Aug 16 / ConcertoNet (English) |
The hills are alive with the Santa Fe Opera |
| 17 Aug 16 / The Huffington Post |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe Opera’s ominously fatalistic ‘Don Giovanni’ |
| 15 Aug 16 / Communities Digital News |
The 2016 festival season at the Santa Fe Opera review |
| 10 Aug 16 / Wall Street Journal |
Santa Fe’s Mozart cast sweeps all before it |
| 10 Aug 16 / Opera Today |
The devil you know |
| 6 Aug 16 / TheaterJones |
The 60th anniversary’s big-ticket items |
| 5 Aug 16 / Washington Post |
A thoughtful Don Giovanni at Santa Fe |
| 5 Aug 16 / Bachtrack |
Delivering Da Don |
| 14 Jul 16 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Okulitch, Ketelsen star in Santa Fe Opera’s New “Don Giovanni” |
| 13 Jul 16 / Opera Warhorses |
‘Don Giovanni’ acting, choreography superb |
| 10 Jul 16 / Albuquerque Journal |
Irresistible, unmissable |
| 4 Jul 16 / New Mexican |
La fanciulla del WestSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
A truly compelling case for more revivals of this Puccini gem |
| 23 Aug 16 / Musical Toronto |
Saddle up for Santa Fe Opera’s ‘Girl of the Golden West’ |
| 17 Aug 16 / Communities Digital News |
The 2016 festival season at the Santa Fe Opera review |
| 10 Aug 16 / Wall Street Journal |
more reviews [+]
Racette’s Golden Girl in New Mexico |
| 10 Aug 16 / Opera Today |
Santa Fe Opera Stages Puccini's Fanciulla del West |
| 9 Aug 16 / Bachtrack |
Patricia Racette takes on a difficult role as the title character in Puccini's The Girl of the Golden West |
| 6 Aug 16 / TheaterJones |
The 60th anniversary’s big-ticket items |
| 5 Aug 16 / Washington Post |
A British stage director and a French conductor take on Puccini's Western opera |
| 4 Aug 16 / Dallas Morning News |
Impressive, compelling |
| 13 Jul 16 / Opera Warhorses |
Pistol-packin’ Minnie |
| 13 Jul 16 / Santa Fe Reporter |
‘La Fanciulla’ golden despite missed opportunity of setting |
| 10 Jul 16 / Albuquerque Journal |
California dreaming at Santa Fe Opera |
| 3 Jul 16 / New Mexican |
associated articles [+]
Santa Fe Opera’s Sheriff of the Golden West
A conversation with Mark Delavan.
A conversation with Mark Delavan.
Santa Fe Opera’s Girl of the Golden West
An interview with Patricia Racette.
An interview with Patricia Racette.
SalomeSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
A psychosexual Salome |
| 7 Sep 15 / The Opera Critic |
Placid Princess of Judea |
| 20 Aug 15 / Opera Today |
A double revenge |
| 15 Aug 15 / Operaclick (English) |
more reviews [+]
Alex Penda hits home vocally and dramatically in Santa Fe's Salome |
| 11 Aug 15 / Bachtrack |
Santa Fe Opera’s solid offerings show why audiences keep coming back |
| 11 Aug 15 / Wall Street Journal |
Powerful “Salome” and problematic Mozart at Santa Fe Opera |
| 9 Aug 15 / Classical Review |
Shock and awe |
| 8 Aug 15 / Communities Digital News |
Santa Fe Opera offers ‘The Daughter of the Regiment,’ ‘Rigoletto’ and ‘Salome’ |
| 8 Aug 15 / New York Times |
Santa Fe Opera updates ‘Salome’ with a surprise |
| 8 Aug 15 / Dallas Morning News |
Exceptional singing in Santa Fe Opera’s ‘Salomé’ |
| 27 Jul 15 / ABQ Journal |
Salome agonistes |
| 23 Jul 15 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Salome — hell hath no fury |
| 20 Jul 15 / New Mexican |
Cold MountainSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 20 | |
Higdon's Cold Mountain is enjoyable without being memorable |
| 3 Sep 15 / The Opera Critic |
Santa Fe Opera’s world premiere of ‘Cold Mountain’ a treasure |
| 22 Aug 15 / CNY Café Momus |
Jennifer Higdon's maiden operatic voyage |
| 22 Aug 15 / Bachtrack |
more reviews [+]
Estreno mundial de Cold Mountain de Jennifer Higdon |
| 20 Aug 15 / The Stage |
Santa Fe Opera breathes new life into epic Civil War tale ‘Cold Mountain’ |
| 17 Aug 15 / Washington Post |
Santa Fe Opera’s solid offerings show why audiences keep coming back |
| 11 Aug 15 / Wall Street Journal |
What 'Cold Mountain' gets right |
| 10 Aug 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Expectations were high; ‘Cold Mountain’ is impressive |
| 10 Aug 15 / ABQ Journal |
Higdon’s ‘Cold Mountain’ scores big time for Santa Fe Opera |
| 10 Aug 15 / Communities Digital News |
'Cold Mountain' is a hit at Santa Fe Opera |
| 9 Aug 15 / St Louis Post-Dispatch |
Cold Mountain: new American classic |
| 9 Aug 15 / The Boston Musical Intelliger |
“Cold Mountain” is a long, bleak night in Santa Fe Opera premiere |
| 8 Aug 15 / Classical Review |
‘Cold Mountain’ emotionally powerful at Santa Fe, but it needs work |
| 8 Aug 15 / Dallas Morning News |
‘Cold Mountain,’ at Santa Fe Opera, recounts a separated lover’s arduous journey |
| 7 Aug 15 / New York Times |
Santa Fe Opera ascends with Jennifer Higdon's "Cold Mountain" |
| 5 Aug 15 / Denver Post |
Jennifer Higdon’s ‘Cold Mountain’ has world premiere at Santa Fe Opera |
| 5 Aug 15 / San Francisco Classical Voice |
Mountain tops |
| 4 Aug 15 / TheaterJones |
Cold Mountain wows audience at Santa Fe world premiere |
| 4 Aug 15 / Opera Today |
Higdon's new opera, Cold Mountain, at Santa Fe |
| 3 Aug 15 / Philadelphia Inquirer |
Long-lost love among the ruins |
| 3 Aug 15 / New Mexican |
associated articles [+]
Jennifer Higdon's 'Cold Mountain'
'Cold Mountain' takes Civil War odyssey to the opera stage.
'Cold Mountain' takes Civil War odyssey to the opera stage.
Cold Mountain is familiar territory for composer Jennifer Higdon
The marrow-deep story of a soldier returning home from war amid the turquoise slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains brought composer Jennifer Higdon home.
The marrow-deep story of a soldier returning home from war amid the turquoise slopes of the Blue Ridge Mountains brought composer Jennifer Higdon home.
Performance added for Cold Mountain at the Santa Fe Opera
The opera by Jennifer Higdon and Gene Scheer, which premieres on Aug. 1, will have an added sixth performance at 8 p.m. Aug. 24. Four of the five scheduled performances already had sold out.
The opera by Jennifer Higdon and Gene Scheer, which premieres on Aug. 1, will have an added sixth performance at 8 p.m. Aug. 24. Four of the five scheduled performances already had sold out.
RigolettoSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 12 | |
A Rigoletto strong in sound |
| 3 Sep 15 / The Opera Critic |
Santa Fe’s celebratory jester |
| 31 Aug 15 / Opera Today |
A twilight tragedy |
| 20 Aug 15 / Mundo Clásico (English) |
more reviews [+]
Rigoletto is beautifully sung, but suffers from bizarre staging choices |
| 13 Aug 15 / TheaterJones |
Santa Fe Opera offers ‘The Daughter of the Regiment,’ ‘Rigoletto’ and ‘Salome’ |
| 8 Aug 15 / New York Times |
A sensational “Rigoletto” debut and uneven “La fille” at Santa Fe Opera |
| 7 Aug 15 / Classical Review |
A grim but arresting production of Verdi’s opera |
| 7 Aug 15 / Financial Times |
Santa Fe’s ‘Rigoletto’ a feast for the ears, but not the eyes |
| 6 Aug 15 / Dallas Morning News |
Outstanding portrayal of the tragic ‘Rigoletto’ |
| 29 Jul 15 / ABQ Journal |
Voices, voices, voices |
| 29 Jul 15 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Santa Fe Rigoletto offers a gimmick-free Mantua where vocal authority rules |
| 9 Jul 15 / Bachtrack |
A dark and stormy night at SFO’s Rigoletto |
| 9 Jul 15 / New Mexican |
associated articles [+]
Hymel out, Sledge in for Santa Fe Opera role
The tenor Bryan Hymel, whose appearances as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto were anticipated as highlights of The Santa Fe Opera’s current season, has withdrawn from those engagements entirely.
The tenor Bryan Hymel, whose appearances as the Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto were anticipated as highlights of The Santa Fe Opera’s current season, has withdrawn from those engagements entirely.
La finta giardinieraSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Secondary Mozart in first rate staging |
| 31 Aug 15 / Opera Today |
An enchanted garden |
| 22 Aug 15 / Mundo Clásico (English) |
Garden of delights |
| 14 Aug 15 / TheaterJones |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe Opera’s solid offerings show why audiences keep coming back |
| 11 Aug 15 / Wall Street Journal |
Powerful “Salome” and problematic Mozart at Santa Fe Opera |
| 9 Aug 15 / Classical Review |
A charming ‘La Finta Giardiniera’ in Santa Fe |
| 4 Aug 15 / Communities Digital News |
Celestial Mozart despite the earthbound plot |
| 29 Jul 15 / Bachtrack |
SFO throws a garden party |
| 27 Jul 15 / New Mexican |
La fille du régimentSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Regimented daughter in Santa Fe |
| 31 Aug 15 / Opera Today |
A high C comic hit |
| 13 Aug 15 / Communities Digital News |
Comedy tonight! |
| 13 Aug 15 / TheaterJones |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe Opera’s solid offerings show why audiences keep coming back |
| 11 Aug 15 / Wall Street Journal |
Santa Fe Opera offers ‘The Daughter of the Regiment,’ ‘Rigoletto’ and ‘Salome’ |
| 8 Aug 15 / New York Times |
A sensational “Rigoletto” debut and uneven “La fille” at Santa Fe Opera |
| 7 Aug 15 / Classical Review |
Slapstick and high Cs in Santa Fe: Daughter in the high desert |
| 8 Jul 15 / Bachtrack |
Season opens with Donizetti's ‘Daughter of the Regiment’ |
| 6 Jul 15 / New Mexican |
Der SchauspieldirektorSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Santa Fe Opera shines in the high desert |
| 24 Aug 14 / St Louis Post-Dispatch |
A pairing of one-act operas by Mozart and Stravinsky turns out to be an utterly brilliant concept |
| 13 Aug 14 / TheaterJones |
Stravinsky and Mozart make colorful music together in Santa Fe Opera double bill |
| 9 Aug 14 / Classical Review |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe's modern makeovers |
| 5 Aug 14 / Wall Street Journal |
The season's "Double Bill" is less exotic, but more off-the-wall |
| 31 Jul 14 / Denver Post |
In-jokes abound in Santa Fe Opera’s ‘Impressario’ |
| 27 Jul 14 / ABQ Journal |
A deuce of an evening |
| 23 Jul 14 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Le RossignolSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 7 | |
Santa Fe Opera shines in the high desert |
| 24 Aug 14 / St Louis Post-Dispatch |
A pairing of one-act operas by Mozart and Stravinsky turns out to be an utterly brilliant concept |
| 13 Aug 14 / TheaterJones |
Stravinsky and Mozart make colorful music together in Santa Fe Opera double bill |
| 9 Aug 14 / Classical Review |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe's modern makeovers |
| 5 Aug 14 / Wall Street Journal |
The season's "Double Bill" is less exotic, but more off-the-wall |
| 31 Jul 14 / Denver Post |
An evening of opera one will not soon forget |
| 27 Jul 14 / ABQ Journal |
A deuce of an evening |
| 23 Jul 14 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Don PasqualeSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 5 | |
Santa Fe Opera shines in the high desert |
| 24 Aug 14 / St Louis Post-Dispatch |
Buffa hoopla |
| 8 Aug 14 / TheaterJones |
Updated Donizetti and Beethoven offer mixed results at Santa Fe Opera |
| 8 Aug 14 / Classical Review |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe's modern makeovers |
| 5 Aug 14 / Wall Street Journal |
Apprentice explodes into the spotlight of the Santa Fe Opera |
| 29 Jul 14 / ABQ Journal |
CarmenSanta Fe OperaNo. of reviews: 8 | |
Santa Fe Opera shines in the high desert |
| 24 Aug 14 / St Louis Post-Dispatch |
At Santa Fe Opera, a Carmen at the Mexico-U.S. border works marvelously |
| 9 Aug 14 / TheaterJones |
The personal is political in Santa Fe’s incendiary border-crisis “Carmen” |
| 8 Aug 14 / Classical Review |
more reviews [+]
Santa Fe's modern makeovers |
| 5 Aug 14 / Wall Street Journal |
A film-noirish Carmen, down Mexico way |
| 30 Jul 14 / New York Times |
Sex, drugs and videotape |
| 2 Jul 14 / Santa Fe Reporter |
Color, flamboyance abound in ‘Carmen’ |
| 29 Jun 14 / ABQ Journal |
Bizet’s ‘Carmen’ takes a ’60s spin |
| 29 Jun 14 / New Mexican |
Reviews search
Performance schedule
Verdi
28 Jun to 24 Aug 2024
Mozart
29 Jun to 23 Aug 2024
Spears
13 Jul to 13 Aug 2024
Strauss, R
20 Jul to 15 Aug 2024
Donizetti
27 Jul to 22 Aug 2024
News & Articles
| Santa Fe Opera announces its 2023 season |
The Santa Fe Opera has announced its 2023 season and revealed its 19th world premiere slated for 2024. |
| 23 Jun 2022 / OperaWire |
| Santa Fe Opera announces its 2022 season lineup |
Music lovers can hear the world premiere of “M. Butterfly” and the local debut of Richard Wagner’s “Tristan and Isolde” at the Santa Fe Opera next summer. |
| 5 Nov 2021 / ABQ Journal |
| Santa Fe Opera adds a COVID-19 safety manager |
Mike VanAartsen joined the company in that role in January. He’s setting the opera’s guidelines for masks, social distancing, hand sanitizing and all the other safety protocols. |
| 16 Mar 2021 / New Mexican |
| Santa Fe Opera appoints chief artistic officer |
Santa Fe Opera has announced that David Lomelí, the Dallas Opera’s director of artistic administration, will become its chief artistic officer, a new position that comes after two major staff departures. |
| 13 Feb 2021 / New Mexican |
| Virtual performances span the world from Santa Fe |
Performance groups in Santa Fe have taken the adage “the show must go on” to heart during the coronavirus pandemic as they turn to a new stage: the internet. |
| 21 Dec 2020 / San Francisco Chronicle |
 |