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Strains Of Summer City's Musical Groups Keep On Swinging
May 17, 2009
If love makes the world go 'round, it's music that provides the vehicle. And, there's no better place to experience a variety of music -- from classical to karaoke -- than summer in Santa Fe.
Visitors and locals alike can enjoy cool jazz presented weekly by GiG and/or opera at the world-renowned Santa Fe Opera nightly in July and August, as well as every kind of music in between. There's music for every taste, and serendipity may provide the opportunity to discover musical tastes you never knew you had.
Beginning its 58th summer season, the Santa Fe Opera (986-5900, www.santafeopera.org) opens Friday night, July 3, with Verdi's La Traviata, featuring Natalie Dessay in her first-ever performance as Violetta. Snuggled in the mountains north of the city (U.S. 84/285, Exit 168), the largely open-air facility offers food for the body at its new Cantina and for the soul with standards, rarely heard masterworks and new operas over its eight-week season.
Other stars of the operatic world who will appear this summer include Patricia Racette (The Letter), Dimitri Pittas (The Elixir of Love), Christine Brewer (Alceste) and Lucas Meachem (Don Giovanni). Through its famed apprentice program, opera-goers have the opportunity to hear the stars of the future as well.
"I'm confident that Santa Fe Opera goers will be thrilled by imaginative sets and costumes and, of course, by great voices this summer," said General Director Charles MacKay, who succeeded Richard Gaddes at the close of the 2008 season. MacKay is only the third director of the Santa Fe Opera; he and Gaddes were preceded by John Crosby, who founded the Opera in 1957.
Besides the magnificent operas presented throughout July and August, visitors may attend a variety of special programs, including Backstage Tours. These one-hour tours run Monday through Saturday, beginning Monday, June 1, at 9 a.m. There is a $5 admission fee, while children (6-17) are free. No reservations are needed; just show up at the opera box office.
Want more music? Then consider attending the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (982-2075 or 982-1890, www.santafechambermusic.com). Beginning July 19 and running through Aug. 24, the festival will present more than 50 programs, including pre-concert talks about the various musical presentations. Eminent British actor Claire Bloom will narrate the season's opening program Sunday and Monday, July 19 and 20. Performances take place at the St. Francis Auditorium in the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Lensic Performing Arts Center, both just off the Plaza.
Chamber music programs feature a variety of classical chamber music, plus more recent work and new festival commissions. A free concert celebrating Indian Market is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Francis Auditorium.
Now in its 27th year, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale (988-2282, www.desertchorale.org) kicks off its four-week Summer Festival Tuesday evening, July 7, with "Glorious Voices, Sacred Spaces" at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Other concerts will be held at Loretto Chapel, El Santuario de Guadalupe and the Scottish Rite Center. Tickets for all 13 concerts may be purchased only at or through the Lensic Performing Arts Center (www.ticketssantafe.org). There will be two additional "Glorious Voices, Sacred Places" programs, plus four "Measure for Measure" concerts featuring works by Shakespeare, three "Sol y Canto" programs focusing on Latin American music, two "Hendel and the Italians" musical presentations and the season finale concert with Susan Graham on Aug. 7.
Joshua D. Habermann, music director/conductor in his first full season with the Desert Chorale, noted that the Chorale "has a strong tradition of performing top-notch (musical) literature in wonderful venues" around Santa Fe. Habermann also serves as guest conductor with various leading chorales throughout the world. The Chorale's Summer Festival similarly includes music from many nations.
Turning to jazz, the fourth annual New Mexico Jazz Festival (988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.org, www.newmexicojazzfestival.org) takes the stage at the Lensic Performing Arts Center the last two weeks of July. Nationally known jazz artists join local talent to provide a variety of programs. The festival, founded in 2006, is a collaborative project of Outpost Performance in Albuquerque, the Lensic and the Santa Fe Jazz Foundation.
The Thirsty Ear Music Festival (473-5723, www.thirstyearfestival.com), June 12-14, features three days of roots music at the famed movie studio, Eaves Movie Ranch. Sponsored by Southwest Roots Music and The Santa Fe Reporter, the 10-year-old festival brings together local and internationally known folk, blues, Indian, Cajun, zydeco and world-music artists. It's early this year -- in previous years, the festival took place on Labor Day weekend.
Santa Fe's experimental music collective, High Mayhem Emerging Music and Arts Festival (505-501-333, www.highmayhem.org), showcases cutting-edge sounds, from jazz-fusion to electronics, at various venues in September. The festival, now in its eighth year, draws a wide audience with eclectic musical tastes.
Internationally known guitarist Bruce Dunlap created the Open Arts Foundation and opened GiG performance space (www.gigsantafe.com) to enable listeners to hear both him and other jazz greats in a cozy concert venue.
If concert bands are more to your liking, you'll want to check out the Santa Fe Concert Band's (471-4865, www.santafeconcertband.org) free public performances throughout the summer. The season kicks off Memorial Day ceremonies (May 25) with concerts at the Santa Fe National Cemetery (10 a.m.) and the Plaza at 1 p.m. The Plaza concert celebrates the dedication of the New Mexico History Museum that weekend.
Other band concerts this summer include Father's Day (June 21) at Federal Park, the annual Pancake Breakfast on the Plaza (July 4), the Midsummer concert (July 26) and the Historic Music concert (Aug. 30), both of which will be at Federal Park.
For something different, the Santa Fe Men's Camerata (www.santafemenscamerata.com) may whet your musical appetite. The 10th anniversary Gala Concerts, June 13 and 14, offer music ranging from classical to pop. The all-male chorus began in 1998 and often performs at fundraisers for nonprofit organizations benefiting Santa Fe.
Flamenco music rings throughout Santa Fe when the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Co. (988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.org) takes to the stage at 8:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Santa Fe. Presented by Luna Moruna Productions, the group performs nightly from June 23 to Sept. 6.
For contemporary productions, Fan Man Productions (988-1234, www.fanmanproductions.com) showcases a wide range of popular music by some of the most arresting performers at a variety of venues, including the Lensic Performing Arts Center and the Santa Fe Brewing Co., with the occasional Paolo Soleri concert, including the legendary Texas Flatlanders on June 1.
Throughout the summer, there will be free music on the Plaza Community Stage at various times from July 6-Aug. 20. Music starts at 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's a chance to people-watch, dance and enjoy, with such a variety of performers the whole family can have a good time.
Last but not least, we promised you karaoke: The Cowgirl BBQ & Grill offers karaoke every Monday night, beginning at 8 p.m. There's no cover charge. Just be prepared to entertain and/or be entertained.
Keep up
For the most up-to-date listings of happenings, musical and more, check out Pasatiempo magazine in The Santa Fe New Mexican each Friday. Rob DeWalt's weekly column, Soundwaves, gives the latest scoop on what's happening in the Santa Fe summer music scene.
Visitors and locals alike can enjoy cool jazz presented weekly by GiG and/or opera at the world-renowned Santa Fe Opera nightly in July and August, as well as every kind of music in between. There's music for every taste, and serendipity may provide the opportunity to discover musical tastes you never knew you had.
Beginning its 58th summer season, the Santa Fe Opera (986-5900, www.santafeopera.org) opens Friday night, July 3, with Verdi's La Traviata, featuring Natalie Dessay in her first-ever performance as Violetta. Snuggled in the mountains north of the city (U.S. 84/285, Exit 168), the largely open-air facility offers food for the body at its new Cantina and for the soul with standards, rarely heard masterworks and new operas over its eight-week season.
Other stars of the operatic world who will appear this summer include Patricia Racette (The Letter), Dimitri Pittas (The Elixir of Love), Christine Brewer (Alceste) and Lucas Meachem (Don Giovanni). Through its famed apprentice program, opera-goers have the opportunity to hear the stars of the future as well.
"I'm confident that Santa Fe Opera goers will be thrilled by imaginative sets and costumes and, of course, by great voices this summer," said General Director Charles MacKay, who succeeded Richard Gaddes at the close of the 2008 season. MacKay is only the third director of the Santa Fe Opera; he and Gaddes were preceded by John Crosby, who founded the Opera in 1957.
Besides the magnificent operas presented throughout July and August, visitors may attend a variety of special programs, including Backstage Tours. These one-hour tours run Monday through Saturday, beginning Monday, June 1, at 9 a.m. There is a $5 admission fee, while children (6-17) are free. No reservations are needed; just show up at the opera box office.
Want more music? Then consider attending the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (982-2075 or 982-1890, www.santafechambermusic.com). Beginning July 19 and running through Aug. 24, the festival will present more than 50 programs, including pre-concert talks about the various musical presentations. Eminent British actor Claire Bloom will narrate the season's opening program Sunday and Monday, July 19 and 20. Performances take place at the St. Francis Auditorium in the New Mexico Museum of Art and the Lensic Performing Arts Center, both just off the Plaza.
Chamber music programs feature a variety of classical chamber music, plus more recent work and new festival commissions. A free concert celebrating Indian Market is scheduled at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, at St. Francis Auditorium.
Now in its 27th year, the Santa Fe Desert Chorale (988-2282, www.desertchorale.org) kicks off its four-week Summer Festival Tuesday evening, July 7, with "Glorious Voices, Sacred Spaces" at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi. Other concerts will be held at Loretto Chapel, El Santuario de Guadalupe and the Scottish Rite Center. Tickets for all 13 concerts may be purchased only at or through the Lensic Performing Arts Center (www.ticketssantafe.org). There will be two additional "Glorious Voices, Sacred Places" programs, plus four "Measure for Measure" concerts featuring works by Shakespeare, three "Sol y Canto" programs focusing on Latin American music, two "Hendel and the Italians" musical presentations and the season finale concert with Susan Graham on Aug. 7.
Joshua D. Habermann, music director/conductor in his first full season with the Desert Chorale, noted that the Chorale "has a strong tradition of performing top-notch (musical) literature in wonderful venues" around Santa Fe. Habermann also serves as guest conductor with various leading chorales throughout the world. The Chorale's Summer Festival similarly includes music from many nations.
Turning to jazz, the fourth annual New Mexico Jazz Festival (988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.org, www.newmexicojazzfestival.org) takes the stage at the Lensic Performing Arts Center the last two weeks of July. Nationally known jazz artists join local talent to provide a variety of programs. The festival, founded in 2006, is a collaborative project of Outpost Performance in Albuquerque, the Lensic and the Santa Fe Jazz Foundation.
The Thirsty Ear Music Festival (473-5723, www.thirstyearfestival.com), June 12-14, features three days of roots music at the famed movie studio, Eaves Movie Ranch. Sponsored by Southwest Roots Music and The Santa Fe Reporter, the 10-year-old festival brings together local and internationally known folk, blues, Indian, Cajun, zydeco and world-music artists. It's early this year -- in previous years, the festival took place on Labor Day weekend.
Santa Fe's experimental music collective, High Mayhem Emerging Music and Arts Festival (505-501-333, www.highmayhem.org), showcases cutting-edge sounds, from jazz-fusion to electronics, at various venues in September. The festival, now in its eighth year, draws a wide audience with eclectic musical tastes.
Internationally known guitarist Bruce Dunlap created the Open Arts Foundation and opened GiG performance space (www.gigsantafe.com) to enable listeners to hear both him and other jazz greats in a cozy concert venue.
If concert bands are more to your liking, you'll want to check out the Santa Fe Concert Band's (471-4865, www.santafeconcertband.org) free public performances throughout the summer. The season kicks off Memorial Day ceremonies (May 25) with concerts at the Santa Fe National Cemetery (10 a.m.) and the Plaza at 1 p.m. The Plaza concert celebrates the dedication of the New Mexico History Museum that weekend.
Other band concerts this summer include Father's Day (June 21) at Federal Park, the annual Pancake Breakfast on the Plaza (July 4), the Midsummer concert (July 26) and the Historic Music concert (Aug. 30), both of which will be at Federal Park.
For something different, the Santa Fe Men's Camerata (www.santafemenscamerata.com) may whet your musical appetite. The 10th anniversary Gala Concerts, June 13 and 14, offer music ranging from classical to pop. The all-male chorus began in 1998 and often performs at fundraisers for nonprofit organizations benefiting Santa Fe.
Flamenco music rings throughout Santa Fe when the Juan Siddi Flamenco Theatre Co. (988-1234, www.ticketssantafe.org) takes to the stage at 8:30 p.m. at The Lodge at Santa Fe. Presented by Luna Moruna Productions, the group performs nightly from June 23 to Sept. 6.
For contemporary productions, Fan Man Productions (988-1234, www.fanmanproductions.com) showcases a wide range of popular music by some of the most arresting performers at a variety of venues, including the Lensic Performing Arts Center and the Santa Fe Brewing Co., with the occasional Paolo Soleri concert, including the legendary Texas Flatlanders on June 1.
Throughout the summer, there will be free music on the Plaza Community Stage at various times from July 6-Aug. 20. Music starts at 6 p.m. Monday-Thursday, and at noon on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It's a chance to people-watch, dance and enjoy, with such a variety of performers the whole family can have a good time.
Last but not least, we promised you karaoke: The Cowgirl BBQ & Grill offers karaoke every Monday night, beginning at 8 p.m. There's no cover charge. Just be prepared to entertain and/or be entertained.
Keep up
For the most up-to-date listings of happenings, musical and more, check out Pasatiempo magazine in The Santa Fe New Mexican each Friday. Rob DeWalt's weekly column, Soundwaves, gives the latest scoop on what's happening in the Santa Fe summer music scene.
