One of my favorite memories so far was the “opera olympics,” in which teams of eight competed in fun games such as sack races and the baloney face toss, a game in which one team member seeks to land as many slices of baloney on the face of another (Barry Banks was the winner) for the prize of pride.

However, as much work as there is, there is still time for play, be it opera related or otherwise. Director Paul Curran, who is directing The Golden Cockerel in which I have a small role, will teach us movement class Donald Palumbo, chorus master of The Metropolitan Opera for 10 years, gives us private coachings and Matthew Epstein, whose list of credits is too long to mention, gives us career consultations. We are also treated to master classes, lessons, and coachings with some of the industry's most influential and inspiring individuals. In addition to the mainstage work, we also perform fully staged and costumed scenes designed by the technical apprentices from the apprentice program at the Crosby Theatre. This compound, by the way, includes a swimming pool in the shape of a chili pepper for those rare moments of rest! Mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, tenor Barry Banks, tenor Alek Shrader, and soprano Elza van den Heever are but a few of the singers we see wandering around the open-air cantina on the nearly 200-acre compound.

'16)-will undertake rigorous work singing in small roles and in choruses of operas, such as The Golden Cockerel and Lucia di Lammermoor, alongside some of the greats in our field. Founded in 1957 by renowned conductor John Crosby, the company is well known for producing world- and U.S.-premiere works-such as the Grammy-nominated Cold Mountain by Jennifer Higdon-as well as the standard operatic repertoire.įor 13 weeks, my colleagues and I-including another Boston Conservatory opera alumnus Eric Ferring (M.M.

Santa Fe may seem an unlikely spot for opera, but those familiar with the field will know that The Santa Fe Opera, and its apprentice artist program of which I am a member, is one of the oldest and most prestigious in the country. in opera performance, this summer, I have been fortunate enough to experience the intense and majestic landscape of Santa Fe, New Mexico at The Santa Fe Opera. After graduating from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with my G.P.D.

Santa fe opera 2017 season