_An Edhat ReaderBy Opera Santa Barbara
A season of popular operas in the Lobero Theatre
Opera Santa Barbara will return to the Lobero Theatre for all three of its 2024-25 season’s productions. “As opera companies nationwide are adapting to new financial realities, our ability to create amazing shows on a smaller scale is a great advantage,” said the company’s Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas. “In recent seasons our audiences have responded enthusiastically to the up-close-and-personal opera experience in the Lobero, and I think they will love what we have in store for 2024-25.”
THE OPERAS
The season will open on November 8 and 10 with Ruggiero Leoncavallo’s PAGLIACCI. The opera, based on a true story, tells the tale of Canio, leader of a commedia dell’arte troupe, who murders his wife and her lover on stage during a performance. Pagliacci has been a repertoire staple since its premiere in 1890, and its famous tenor aria “Vesti la giubba” has been featured in movies, TV, and pop music. In The Untouchables Al Capone, portrayed by Robert DeNiro, weeps as he watches a performance of “Vesti la giubba” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Freddy Mercury quotes the melody at the beginning of Queen’s song “It’s a hard life”, as do classic commercials for Rice Krispies and Coca Cola.
The cast of PAGLIACCI at Opera Santa Barbara is headlined by tenor Robert Stahley, who most recently appeared with the company as Siegmund in The Valkyrie (2023), and soprano Alysha Fox, who made her OSB debut as Giorgetta in Il tabarro in 2021. Octavio Cardenas and Daniel Chapman, the stage director/stage designer duo behind OSB’s Zorro (2024) and Madama Butterfly (2019) create a new production inspired by Italian neorealist cinema.
The season continues on February 21 and 23, 2025 with Mozart’s masterpiece The Marriage of Figaro, starring a cast of alumni of the company’s Chrisman Studio Artists Program. Bass Colin Ramsey will sing the title role, with Sunwoo Park as Susanna. “The Chrisman Studio has over time attracted some amazing talent. Many alumni are now making their home in Santa Barbara while pursuing national careers.” said Protopapas. “The Marriage of Figaro is the perfect vehicle to showcase the artistic prowess and promise of our alumni.” Another stage director/projection designer duo, Sara Widzer and Yuki Izumihara, who helmed the company’s sensational production of Semele in 2022, creates a new production that sets the story in a 1920’s luxury ocean liner.
The season will close on May 2 and 4, 2025 with Donizetti’s The Daughter of the Regiment. The opera, which was originally part of the company’s canceled 2020-21 season, will star Santa Barbara native Jana McIntyre, who headlined Semele (2022) and La scala di seta (2022), and recently dazzled Santa Barbara audiences in her performances at LA DIVINA: The Art of Maria Callas. “The score of The Daughter of the Regiment is tuneful and toe-tapping from beginning to end, and with its vocal acrobatics is the perfect vehicle for the amazing Jana McIntyre.” said Protopapas. Sensational young tenor Chris Mosz makes his OSB debut singing the role of Tonio, which includes the famous “Ah! mes amis” aria with the 9 high Cs. The production will be directed by comedy master Josh Shaw, Artistic Director of Pacific Opera Project, who collaborated with McIntyre in Rossini’s La scala di seta in 2022.
Protopapas will conduct all three productions.
TICKETS AND PRICING
Current season ticket holders can renew their tickets starting on April 8. New season packages and tickets to individual operas will become available on Monday, April 22.
As part of its continuing effort to simplify access to affordable tickets, in 2024-25 the company will replace its trademark “You Decide!” tickets with $29 seats available directly on the Lobero website. “While people loved the idea of choosing their own price, not being able to choose their seat was a disadvantage for many,” said Protopapas. “The new system is very simple: $29 seats are available directly on the seating map. The only ‘catch’ is that you have to buy them early. Our ticket prices go up over time.”
In another first-in-the-industry move, Opera Santa Barbara will now offer refundable season tickets. Season ticket packages purchased before July 1 will be refundable until September 30, 2025. Season ticket holders can also exchange tickets between productions.
Seating charts, pricing, and ticket policies can be found here.
The company advises patrons to only purchase tickets through the Lobero Theatre Box Office, and not through third-party vendors.
STUDENT MATINEES AND YOUTH TICKETS
Opera Santa Barbara will offer free student matinee performances of The Marriage of Figaro and The Daughter of the Regiment subject to school schedules. Interested teachers and school administrators should contact Tim Accurso at tim@operasb.org.
Young people ages 8-18 receive free admission to all Opera SB performances. Some conditions apply. Information can be found here. Parents are welcome to inquire about the content and age-appropriateness of each opera at info@operasb.org.
