Charles Mackay Opera
Charles Mackay Opera
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SFO is internationally known for introducing new and innovative operas as well as for its productions of works from the standard operatic repertoire. Since its inception, the Santa Fe Opera has staged over forty American and eleven international premieres, and has commissioned nine new operas.
Crosby remained as general director until 2000, the longest general directorship in US opera history. Richard Gaddes served as SFO's General Director from 2000 through 2008. In November 2007, SFO named Charles MacKay the company's third general director, effective 1 October 2008.
In addition to being SFO's founding General Director, Crosby had simultaneously served as SFO's de facto first principal conductor. Alan Gilbert became the company's first music director from 2003 to 2006. In May 2007, SFO announced the official conclusion of Gilbert's tenure as music director, and the appointment of Kenneth Montgomery as interim music director. Montgomery served as interim music director through the 2007 season. In July 2007, the Santa Fe Opera named Edo de Waart their chief conductor, effective 1 October 2007, with an initial contract was of 4 years. However, in November 2008, SFO announced de Waart's departure from the post before the end of his contract, no earlier than the end of the 2009 season. de Waart cited health and family reasons for this decision. In May 2010, SFO announced the appointment of Frédéric Chaslin as the company's next chief conductor, effective 1 October 2010, with an initial contract of 3 years.
From the beginning, certain characteristics of what was to become a typical season emerged. It runs annually from late June or the beginning of July to the third week of August, with five operas presented in rotating repertory.
Generally, from the time of Crosby's inception of the company, two popular operas opened the season. An American (or world) premiere was generally in the program and these included works commissioned by the company. A lifelong lover of the operas of Richard Strauss, Crosby regularly scheduled one and presented many American premieres of the composer’s work, an example being the 1964 U.S. premiere of the 1938 Daphne. Finally, the fifth opera was often a rarely performed work. The same philosophy continues to the present day. For modern works, US premiere productions of contemporary operas include Thomas Adès' The Tempest (2006), Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul, Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater, the July 2009 world premiere of The Letter, by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Terry Teachout, and the first full production of Lewis Spratlan's Life Is A Dream in July 2010.
In his first season, Crosby created the Apprentice Program whereby eight young people were to be given living expenses and paid per performance to be members of the chorus and to understudy major roles. Unusual for its time, in America in the 1950s, the Apprentice Program helped young singers to make the transition from academic to professional life. To date, over 1,500 aspiring opera singers have participated. As Crosby noted:
"In this country young artists have to do something which is impossible – gain experience. But with our plan, these young people will be scheduled in small roles and will have the opportunity of working with their older brothers and sisters who have already won their spurs. To get such experience now, a young artist has to go to Europe."
The Apprentice Program for Technicians was added in 1965.
The Program has formal academic goals in addition to the "hands on" experience provided by the preparation for and participation in professional productions. Seminars and master classes are conducted; singers receive coaching in voice, music, body movement, career counseling, and diction. Technical apprentices are provided with instruction in stage operations, stage properties, costume and wig construction, scenic art, wigs and make up, music services, and stage lighting.
The Apprentice Program for Singers and Technicians continues at the Santa Fe Opera today. Typically, about 1,400 aspiring young singers and 600 technicians apply; in 2010, 38 singers and 70 technical apprentices worked at the opera.
Crosby remained as general director until 2000, the longest general directorship in US opera history. Richard Gaddes served as SFO's General Director from 2000 through 2008. In November 2007, SFO named Charles MacKay the company's third general director, effective 1 October 2008.
In addition to being SFO's founding General Director, Crosby had simultaneously served as SFO's de facto first principal conductor. Alan Gilbert became the company's first music director from 2003 to 2006. In May 2007, SFO announced the official conclusion of Gilbert's tenure as music director, and the appointment of Kenneth Montgomery as interim music director. Montgomery served as interim music director through the 2007 season. In July 2007, the Santa Fe Opera named Edo de Waart their chief conductor, effective 1 October 2007, with an initial contract was of 4 years. However, in November 2008, SFO announced de Waart's departure from the post before the end of his contract, no earlier than the end of the 2009 season. de Waart cited health and family reasons for this decision. In May 2010, SFO announced the appointment of Frédéric Chaslin as the company's next chief conductor, effective 1 October 2010, with an initial contract of 3 years.
From the beginning, certain characteristics of what was to become a typical season emerged. It runs annually from late June or the beginning of July to the third week of August, with five operas presented in rotating repertory.
Generally, from the time of Crosby's inception of the company, two popular operas opened the season. An American (or world) premiere was generally in the program and these included works commissioned by the company. A lifelong lover of the operas of Richard Strauss, Crosby regularly scheduled one and presented many American premieres of the composer’s work, an example being the 1964 U.S. premiere of the 1938 Daphne. Finally, the fifth opera was often a rarely performed work. The same philosophy continues to the present day. For modern works, US premiere productions of contemporary operas include Thomas Adès' The Tempest (2006), Tan Dun's Tea: A Mirror of Soul, Kaija Saariaho's Adriana Mater, the July 2009 world premiere of The Letter, by composer Paul Moravec and librettist Terry Teachout, and the first full production of Lewis Spratlan's Life Is A Dream in July 2010.
In his first season, Crosby created the Apprentice Program whereby eight young people were to be given living expenses and paid per performance to be members of the chorus and to understudy major roles. Unusual for its time, in America in the 1950s, the Apprentice Program helped young singers to make the transition from academic to professional life. To date, over 1,500 aspiring opera singers have participated. As Crosby noted:
"In this country young artists have to do something which is impossible – gain experience. But with our plan, these young people will be scheduled in small roles and will have the opportunity of working with their older brothers and sisters who have already won their spurs. To get such experience now, a young artist has to go to Europe."
The Apprentice Program for Technicians was added in 1965.
The Program has formal academic goals in addition to the "hands on" experience provided by the preparation for and participation in professional productions. Seminars and master classes are conducted; singers receive coaching in voice, music, body movement, career counseling, and diction. Technical apprentices are provided with instruction in stage operations, stage properties, costume and wig construction, scenic art, wigs and make up, music services, and stage lighting.
The Apprentice Program for Singers and Technicians continues at the Santa Fe Opera today. Typically, about 1,400 aspiring young singers and 600 technicians apply; in 2010, 38 singers and 70 technical apprentices worked at the opera.
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