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Three of these operas are being presented for the first time. Heading the list is the first major U.S. production of Vivaldi's opera, Griselda. Also featured are Gian Carlo Menotti's The Last Savage, marking the centennial of the composer's birth, and Gounod's beloved masterpiece, Faust. Returning are the 2007 production of Puccini's La Bohme and the acclaimed 2001 staging of Berg's Wozzeck.
"The 2011 season is in the best Santa Fe Opera tradition, staying true to its mission of presenting a mix of repertory with a rarity in Menotti's The Last Savage, a premiere‹in this case something very old that is new‹Vivaldi's Griselda written in 1735, and a major 20th century masterpiece, Berg's Wozzeck, along with Faust and La Bohme," General Director Charles MacKay said in his announcement.
An additional announcement was made by MacKay, introducing Fr_d_ric Chaslin appointment as Chief Conductor: "I am pleased to announce that Fr_d_ric Chaslin has agreed to become the Opera's new Chief Conductor. His three-year appointment ends a more than two year search which included extensive conversations with Orchestra members, artists and leaders in the music field. Maestro Chaslin brings a distinguished career as conductor, pianist, composer and author to The Santa Fe Opera. In his debut last season he established a wonderful rapport with his colleagues both on and off the stage, and especially with the Orchestra. As chief conductor, Maestro Chaslin's primary responsibility will be to maintain and enhance the high artistic standards and quality of the Opera Orchestra. With his background, he is eminently qualified. We were delighted in our discussions with Maestro Chaslin to learn of his admiration for the Company, and his interest in becoming a part of our organization. He will open the 2011 season conducting a new production of Gounod's Faust, and at least one production each season in subsequent years."
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2011 SEASON
FAUST
Charles Gounod
First Performance by The Santa Fe Opera
Sung in French
July 1, 6, 9, 15; August 1, 8, 15, 20, 24, 27
CONDUCTOR Fr_d_ric Chaslin
STAGE DIRECTOR Stephen Lawless
SCENIC DESIGNER Benoit Dugardyn
COSTUME DESIGNER Sue Willmington
LIGHTING DESIGNER Mark McCullough
FAUST Bryan Hymel (July 1-August 1)
Dimitri Pittas (August 8-27)
MARGUERITE Ailyn P_rez
Mê_PHISTOPHê_Lê_S Mark Doss
VALENTIN Christopher Magiera
SIê_BEL Jennifer Holloway
MARTHE Jamie Barton
LA BOHê_ME
Giacomo Puccini
Revival of the 2007 Production
Sung in Italian
July 2, 8, 13, 22; August 2, 6, 10, 13, 16, 23, 26
CONDUCTOR Robert Spano
DIRECTOR Paul Curran
SCENIC AND COSTUME Kevin Knight
LIGHTING DESIGNER Rick Fisher
MIMê• Ana Mar‹a Mart‹nez
RODOLFO David Lomeli
MUSETTA Heidi Stober
MARCELLO Corey McKern
SCHAUNARD Keith Phares
COLLINE Christian Van Horn
BENOIT/ALCINDORO Thomas Hammons
GRISELDA
Antonio Vivaldi
First Major U.S. Production
Sung in Italian
July 16, 20, 29, August 4, 9, 19
CONDUCTOR Grant Gershon
DIRECTOR Peter Sellars
COSTUME DESIGNER Dunya Ramicova
LIGHTING DESIGNER James F. Ingalls
GRISELDA Meredith Arwady
ROBERTO David Daniels
COSTANZA Isabel Leonard
OTTONE Amanda Majeski
CORRADO Yuriy Mynenko (American Opera Debut)
THE LAST SAVAGE
Gian Carlo Menotti
First Performance by The Santa Fe Opera
Sung in English
July 23, 27; August 5, 11, 18, 22, 25
CONDUCTOR George Manahan
DIRECTOR Ned Canty
SCENIC AND COSTUME Allen Moyer
LIGHTING DESIGNER Duane Schuler
CHOREOGRAPHER Sešn Curran
ABDUL Daniel Okulitch
KITTY Anna Christy
SARDULA Jennifer Zetlan
MAHARANEE Jamie Barton
KODANDA Sean Panikkar
MR. SCATTERGOOD John Del Carlo
WOZZECK
Alban Berg
Revival of the 2001 Production
Sung in German
July 30; August 3, 12, 17
CONDUCTOR David Robertson
DIRECTOR Daniel Slater
SCENIC AND COSTUME Robert Innes Hopkins
LIGHTING DESIGNER Rick Fisher
WOZZECK Richard Paul Fink
MARIE Nicola Beller Carbone
DOCTOR Eric Owens
MARGRET Patricia Risley
DRUM MAJOR Stuart Skelton
CAPTAIN Robert Brubaker
Visiti Santa Fe Opera.