Scenes At Opening Of The Santa Fe Opera’s 2026 Season

Submitted by Carol A. Clark
on July 7, 2026
- 10:09 am

Karen Chia-ling Ho (Cio-Cio San) performs in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which opened the Santa Fe Opera’s 69th Festival Season on July 3. Photo by Bronwen Sharp/for the Santa Fe Opera

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham with her husband Manny, left, and Santa Fe Opera General Director Robert K. Meya Friday, July 3 at the opening of the 2026 Season. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com

From The Santa Fe Opera:

SANTA FE — This summer, the Santa Fe Opera presents a lineup of classic, rarely performed and new works. Running July 3 through Aug. 29, the 69th Festival Season features 38 performances of two new productions, two celebrated revivals and an American premiere.

An homage to the company’s first-ever performance in 1957, Opening Weekend took flight on July 3 with Lee Blakeley’s acclaimed production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, revived by Melanie Bacaling. Next, on July 4, was a new international co-production with Garsington Opera of Mozart’s The Magic Flute directed by Christopher Luscombe.

Centering the season from July 18 is a revival of Alessandro Talevi’s production of Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, originally presented during the opera’s 2021 Season. On July 25, Handel’s Rodelinda is offered for the first time at the Santa Fe Opera, led by Santa Fe Opera Music Director and early music specialist Harry Bicket with direction by R.B. Schlather.

Finally, on Aug. 1, the Santa Fe Opera presents the American premiere of Lili Elbe, an opera in two acts by Grammy-winning composer Tobias Picker and librettist Aryeh Lev Stollman, featuring former Apprentice Singer Lucia Lucas in the title role.

The popular Apprentice Scenes return on Aug. 16, showcasing the opera’s singing and technical apprentices. The Apprentice Concert on Aug. 23 features the Apprentice Singers in a concert with The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra led by James Gaffigan.

“As we celebrate the Santa Fe Opera’s 69th Season, we honor a legacy built on bold creativity, artistic excellence and a spirit of discovery that has defined our company. 2026 offers audiences a confection of beloved classics, rarely heard masterpieces and thrilling new works, culminating in our 46th American premiere: Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman’s Lili Elbe,” General Director Robert K. Meya said. “This significant premiere reaffirms our enduring commitment to presenting works that speak to our time and illuminate the future of our art form.”

Contact Us

The Santa Fe Opera is located at 301 Opera Drive, Santa Fe, NM 87506. Questions? Call the Box Office Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 800.280.4654 or 505.986.5900 or email boxoffice@santafeopera.org. Request Reviewer Tickets >>>

About The Santa Fe Opera

Named “Festival of the Year” in 2022 by the International Opera Awards, the Santa Fe Opera annually draws 70,000 people from New Mexico and around the globe. Nestled atop a mountain vista in northern New Mexico, the company’s iconic Crosby Theatre is open on three sides, allowing visitors to enjoy performances complemented by the elements. Since 1957, the company has presented over 2,000 performances of 180 operas by 92 composers spanning five centuries of opera, creating a legacy of 45 American premieres and 19 world premieres.

Enterprise Bank & Trust Los Alamos Region President Liddie Martinez, a member of the Sante Fe Opera Board of Directors and her husband Rick Martinez in a special dining room Friday, July 3 at the opening of the 2026 Season. Photo by Carol A. Clark/ladailypost.com