Santa Fe Opera - General History

General History

John Crosby, a New York-based conductor, founded SFO in 1956, originally as the Opera Association of New Mexico. His goal was to give American singers the opportunity to learn and perform new roles while having ample time for rehearsal and preparation. Its first season began on 3 July 1957.

SFO is internationally known for introducing new operas as well as for its productions of 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. In August 2012, Chaslin resigned as SFO's chief conductor.