The Santa Fe Opera Announces a Casting Update for 'La bohème' Opening June 28
Nicaraguan-American Soprano Gabriella Reyes will Assume the Role of Musetta
View or Print Press Release (PDF)
Santa Fe, NM — The Santa Fe Opera announces a casting update for La bohème, which opens the season on Friday, June 28. Nicaraguan-American soprano Gabriella Reyes will assume the role of Musetta, replacing Kirsten MacKinnon, who has withdrawn from the production for personal reasons. Reyes is a 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions grand finalist and recently made her Metropolitan Opera debut as the High Priestess in Aida, followed by performances as First Lady in The Magic Flute and Nella in Gianni Schicchi. After Reyes’s Santa Fe Opera debut, she will be heard as Liù in Turandot at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Marko Nikodijević and Marina Abramovic’s 7 Deaths of Maria Callas.
The cast of La bohème also features tenor Mario Chang, a native of Guatemala City in the role of Rodolfo, and the Colombian-American soprano Vanessa Vasquez, in her company debut as Mimì. Chang made his Santa Fe Opera debut in 2017 as Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor. He is a former member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera and holds an Advanced Diploma in Opera Studies from the Juilliard School. Vasquez is a winner of the 2017 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and completed a four-year residency at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. Additional cast members include baritone Zachary Nelson as Marcello and baritone Will Liverman in his company debut as Schaunard. Both are former Santa Fe Opera apprentice singers. Bass Soloman Howard, last seen on the Santa Fe Opera stage in 2018 as the Bonze in Madame Butterfly, returns in the role of Colline. Bass-baritone Dale Travis sings the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro.
Composed by Giacomo Puccini, La bohème tells the story of young bohemians searching for a sense of belonging in 19th century Paris. Jader Bignamini conducts this new production directed by Mary Birnbaum. Birnbaum, in her Santa Fe Opera debut, aims to capture authentic representations of the story’s female bohemians. She notes, “As a woman, I’m thrilled to direct this, because I want the women to be complete characters, not symbols, who have a whole journey towards and away from social conventions.”
The 2019 Season
The 2019 Season, running from June 28 to August 24, presents five operas in 36 performances, a special Santa Fe Opera debut concert by celebrated American soprano Renée Fleming with the Santa Fe Opera Orchestra led by Music Director Harry Bicket, and two Apprentice Scenes performances. The 63rd Season, the first to be led by General Director Robert K. Meya, Artistic Director Alexander Neef, and Music Director Harry Bicket, will explore classic works of the repertory as well as operas new to the Santa Fe Opera and the world’s stage.
La bohème
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
Premiered February 1, 1896, Teatro Regio, Turin
12 performances: June 28; July 3, 6, 12, 19 & 29; August 3, 7, 12, 17, 20 & 24, 2019
Sung in Italian with opera titles in English and Spanish
A new Santa Fe Opera production
Last performed by The Santa Fe Opera in 2011
Production support generously provided by James R. Seitz, Jr.
Creative Team
Conductor: Jader Bignamini
Director: Mary Birnbaum*
Scenic Design: Grace Laubacher*
Costume Design: Camellia Koo*
Lighting Design: Anshuman Bhatia*
Chorus Master: Susanne Sheston
Cast
Mimì: Vanessa Vasquez*
Musetta: Gabriella Reyes*
Rodolfo: Mario Chang
Marcello: Zachary Nelson+
Schaunard: Will Liverman*+
Colline: Soloman Howard
Benoit/Alcindoro: Dale Travis
The Santa Fe Opera Orchestra and Chorus
*Santa Fe Opera debut
+Former Santa Fe Opera Apprentice
2019 Season Information
Performance Start Times
June 28 — July 27, 8:30 PM | July 29 — August 24, 8:00 PM
Apprentice Scenes
Fully-staged scenes from the operatic repertory showcasing the remarkable talent of Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Singers and Technicians will be presented on two consecutive Sunday evenings, August 11 and 18, 2019.
Family Nights
Special performances of all five productions during the season are designated Family Nights, providing opportunities for families to attend mainstage performances. Prices for both adults and accompanying children are greatly discounted from regular ticket prices for the following performances: The Pearl Fishers on Saturday, June 29; La bohème on Saturday, July 6; Jenůfa on Friday, August 2; Così fan tutte on Tuesday, August 13; The Thirteenth Child on Wednesday, August 21. Visit Family Nights for more information.
2019 Tickets & More
Tickets, Transportation, Tours, and Dining options are on sale online at santafeopera.org, by telephone 505-986-5900 (toll-free 800-280-4654), or in person at the Box Office.
The mission of the Santa Fe Opera is to advance the operatic art form by presenting ensemble performances of the highest quality in a unique setting with a varied repertory of new, rarely performed, and standard works; to ensure the excellence of opera’s future through apprentice programs for singers, technicians, and arts administrators; and to foster an understanding and appreciation of opera among a diverse public.