Aria! Planned Giving Spotlight: Christophe Olson and Josed Granados

Christophe Olson and Josed Granados met in Santa Fe in 2006. Christophe took Josed to the opera for the first time, a production of Cendrillon starring mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato.

By then, Christophe was a Santa Fe Opera regular, having attended performances since the late 1980s—over 100 productions. But Cendrillon was Josed’s first experience.

“I was taken away by the sophistication of the staging and costumes. It is still my most memorable performance,” Josed said.

I’m involved with many nonprofits. The Santa Fe Opera has a consistent record of fiscal responsibility and met challenges head-on with taste and grace.

Christophe’s favorite memory is more recent, when in August of 2019 The Thirteenth Child was stopped mid-performance due to a ferocious thunderstorm. Before moving to Santa Fe, Christophe toured with the Grateful Dead, so with his professional background, he knows that sometimes in live performance you have to expect the unexpected.

Christophe Olson and Josed Granados at Winter Gala — 2018 Winter Gala. Photo Credit: Jason Stilgebouer

“That night showed me the integrity of the company. The staff kept the audience calm—and the show went on when it was safe. My mom was with us that night, too, and she had a great adventure! It was her last trip to Santa Fe.”

Since 2019, just two years ago, Christophe and Josed have expanded their opera travels to attend performances in New York, Canada, Germany, France, Poland and Japan.

“I blame the Santa Fe Opera for getting me into opera,” Christophe joked. “And I credit the Santa Fe Opera for educating me about the art form.”

In 2019, Christophe and Josed decided to include the opera in their estate plans.

“I’m involved with many nonprofits. The Santa Fe Opera has a consistent record of fiscal responsibility and met challenges head-on with taste and grace,” Christophe said.

“For me, it is all about the experience. After attending more performances in traditional indoor theaters, I love the beautiful, outdoor Santa Fe Opera venue even more,” Josed added.

When evaluating their situation, Christophe and Josed agreed that a bequest offered them the most flexibility to support the opera and the programs they find most compelling, especially early music productions and the Apprentice Programs.

“When I turned 50, I wanted to mark the occasion by doing something for the Santa Fe Opera. It has been such a force in my life,” Christophe said.

Looking forward to the 2021 Season, they are both excited about the repertoire and the return to live performance. They called out The Marriage of Figaro in particular, given their enthusiasm for earlier works. But they also mentioned the world premiere of John Corigliano and Mark Adamo’s The Lord of Cries.

“The Lord of Cries is a fantastic story! I can’t believe it wasn’t an opera before this,” Christophe noted.

Christophe and Josed remain committed to the Santa Fe Opera in 2021 and beyond.

“If I have a penny left when my time comes, I will split it between the Santa Fe Opera and Josed,” Christophe said warmly.