ON STAGE
30th Anniversary Season 2023-2024
PASIÓN ESPAÑOLA
Carmen, by Georges Bizet on Friday, September 29 & Sunday, October 1, 2023 at the Granada Theatre
Il trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi for Friday, February 9 & Sunday, February 11, 2024 at the Lobero Theatre
Zorro by Héctor Armienta on Friday, April 19 & Sunday April 21, 2024 at the Lobero Theatre
Bandits, swashbucklers, and star-crossed lovers populate a lineup of pageantry and high drama inspired by the music and history of Spain in Opera Santa Barbara’s 30th Anniversary Season. The company will return to offering two performances for each opera.
Bandits, swashbucklers, and star-crossed lovers populate a season of pageantry and high drama inspired by the music and history of Spain, in our 30th Anniversary season.
The season will open on Friday, September 29 at 7:30 pm and Sunday, October 1, 2023, at 2:30 pm with Bizet’s Carmen, arguably the world’s most popular opera, last seen in Santa Barbara in 2016. The performance will take place at the Granada Theater. The production will feature an all-star cast, a large chorus and orchestra, and dancers from State Street Ballet, conducted by OSB Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas.
On Friday, February 9 at 7:30pm and Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2:30pm the company returns to the Lobero Theater for a production of Verdi’s dark historical melodrama Il Trovatore (“The troubadour”). A story of superstition, revenge, and ill-fated love in medieval Spain combined with some of Verdi’s most passionate melodies, including the famous Anvil Chorus, makes Il Trovatore the quintessential Italian romantic opera. The powerhouse cast stars soprano Karin Wolverton, tenor Harold Meers, baritone Timothy Mix, mezzo soprano Deborah Nansteel, and bass Andrew Potter. Kostis Protopapas conducts the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus.
The season will close on Friday, April 19 at 7:30pm and Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 2:30pm at the Lobero Theatre, with the company premiere of Hector Armienta’s swashbuckling adventure Zorro. Premiered in 2022 at Opera Southwest, Zorro is based on the adventures of Johnston McCully’s legendary pulp hero, the dashing masked vigilante who defends the commoners and indigenous peoples of California against tyrannical officials. Anthony Barrese, who conducted the 2022 premiere, will lead the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus in his company debut.