Editing Santa Fe Opera (section)

==Theatres and other facilities==
[[File:SFO-Wind panels.jpg|thumb|left|Wind and rain baffles on the south side of the theatre]]
There have been three theatres on the present site of The Santa Fe Opera's approximately (now) 150 acres of land. Each has been located on the same site on a [[mesa]], with the audience facing West toward an ever-changing horizon of sunsets and thunderstorms, frequently visible throughout many productions when no backdrops are used. In the first two theaters, the exposure to weather caused occasional cancellations, postponements, or extended intermissions. The rain, the want to improve acoustics, improve patron facilities, comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, and provide more seating led to the making of the Crosby Theater.

Three features distinguish each of the Santa Fe Opera theaters from any conventional opera house. There is no fly system to allow for scenery to be lowered from above. There is no proscenium arch which does include no curtain and no means for projecting [[surtitles]]. And, the sides of the house are open and the rear of the stage may be completely opened to provide westward views.

Performances begin close to sunset, so that the lighting of the productions is not compromised by the sides of the theatre being open to the outside environment. Since the 2011 season, the starting time has been moved up by one half-hour from the original 9pm time. More social aspects of the performance starting time include giving opera-goers the opportunity to observe New Mexico sunsets against the surrounding landscape and the tradition of [[tailgate party|tailgate dining]].<ref name="NMexican-2008-07-22">{{cite news
| title=Gala delights chefs, diners
| url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Food/Gala-delights-chefs--diners
| first=Patricia | last=West-Barker |work=[[The Santa Fe New Mexican|The New Mexican]] | date=July 22, 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229191747/http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Food/Gala-delights-chefs--diners
| archive-date=2012-02-29 | url-status=dead
}}
</ref>

===Original theatre, 1957 to 1967===
[[File:Igor Stravinsky at Santa Fe Opera.jpg|thumb|Bust of [[Stravinsky]] on the Stravinsky Terrace]]

The totally open-air theatre was designed to seat 480 and was built for $115,000 on a site carefully selected by Crosby and an acoustician friend, who fired off a series of rifle shots until they found the perfect natural location for an outdoor theatre. It was "the only outdoor theatre in America exclusively designed for opera".<ref name="Scott"/> Audience members sat on benches. The Santa Fe firm of McHugh, Hooker, Bradley P. Kidder and Associates were architects for the original theatre; lead architects John W. McHugh and [[Van Dorn Hooker]] worked with the acoustical engineer Jack Purcell of Bolt, Beranek and Newman (Boston and Los Angeles).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/NM-01-049-0084 |title = Santa Fe Opera {{!}} SAH ARCHIPEDIA}}</ref> The structural design calculations were performed by Sergio Acosta, a structural engineer and immigrant from Panama who graduated from the University of Texas and was a resident of Albuquerque, NM from 1948 until his death at age 78.

This was the location of the inaugural performance on opening night, 3 July 1957. ''[[Madama Butterfly]]'' played to a sold-out crowd. By the end of the eight-week season, the 12,000 people who attended accounted for sales at 90% of capacity.

A mezzanine was added in 1965 but, on 27 July 1967, four weeks into the season, a fire destroyed the theatre, causing the company to move to a local downtown high school for the remainder of the season. From the Sweeney Gymnasium, they created the "Sweeney Opera House", and completed the season, albeit without most of the original costumes or sets. A huge fund-raising operation took place, backed by Igor Stravinsky, and $2.4 million was raised to rebuild the theatre in time for the following season.

===Rebuilt theatre, 1968 to 1997===
[[File:Santa-Fe-Opera-Stage Scenery Lift.jpg|thumb|left|Built for the 1968 theatre and known as the B-Lift, this elevator raises scenery from the storage area three floors below the stage to stage level]]
The second theatre, a new open-air house seating 1,889, was ready for the start of the new season on 26 June 1968. Just like the company's opening night in 1957, it presented Puccini’s ''Madama Butterfly''.

The new theatre was also designed by McHugh and Kidder. One of its principal features was the partial opening of the roof towards the middle of the orchestra section, provided by the curving, audience-facing slope of the stage roof and the thrust of the mezzanine and rear orchestra roof forward. Also, the auditorium's sides were open, as was the rear of the stage (although sliding doors could be closed). It provided for spectacular Westward views – as well as giving some centrally located audience members a view of the night sky.

Most of the new theatre's backstage facilities, including scenery construction and storage and costume and props production, were actually constructed below the stage level in order to preserve the open views to the West. Additionally, a large elevator, located immediately behind the stage and known as the "B-Lift", was included and it became the means whereby scenery could be moved up one level from the scene construction shop to the stage or up or down two levels to or from the large scenery storage area located three levels below the stage. The elevator still remains in place.

===Crosby Theatre, since 1998===
[[Image:Santa Fe Opera interior view from section 10.jpg|thumb|Interior of the Crosby Theatre. The white sail-like wind baffles are visible on the left, the clerestory window provides light, and the rear of the stage is open.]]
[[File:Crosby Theatre-Santa Fe Opera.JPG|thumb|Crosby Theatre looking South]]

It was renamed the Crosby Theatre not only to honor the founder's death in 2002, but also used to reflect the contributions of his parents,<ref>A dedication plaque on the house exterior names all three Crosbys.</ref> the present theatre was designed by the architectural firm headed by James Polshek of New York.

It was built during extensive reconstruction, which followed the tearing down of the auditorium of the 1968 theatre at the end of the opera season in late August 1997. The stage and backstage facilities such as dressing rooms and the costume shop as well as the scenery construction shop remained in place. The new theatre was completed in ten months for an early July 1998 opening of a new season. Like the previous opening nights of 1957 and 1968, it featured a performance of ''Madama Butterfly'' this time sung by Miriam Gauci, the Maltese soprano who had her debut in the same role at the SFO in 1987.

With fewer storm-related problems (and, with a higher stage roof providing a better view of the Westward landscape), the theatre now seats 2,128 plus 106 standees, although it has a strikingly intimate feel. It added a wider and more complete roof structure, with the new front and rear portions supported by cables and joined together with a [[clerestory]] window. This offers protection from the sky, but with the sides remaining open to the elements. The presence of wind baffles and, since 2001, Stieren Hall, the orchestra's rehearsal hall, has helped improve exposure on the southern, windward side of the auditorium. A performance of ''The 13th Child'' on August 9, 2019, was paused for twenty minutes due to inclement passing weather, a first in the Santa Fe Opera's history. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Hertelendy |first=Paul |date=November 1, 2019 |title=Paul Ruder's Premiere at Santa Fe Opera: Gut-Wrenching Jenufa |pages=29 |work=American Record Guide}}</ref>

In 1999, as an alternative to installing a translation system using the projected supertitles (or [[surtitles]]), an [[Electronic libretto|electronic titles system]] was installed in the Crosby Theatre. Invented by [[Figaro Systems]] of Santa Fe (and only the second one installed after the [[Metropolitan Opera]]'s ''Met Titles'' in 1995), the system provides small rectangular electronic screens in front of each patron's seat, showing a two-line translation of the sung text in either English or Spanish. The system has the possibility of handling up to six languages.

Along with operas, the Crosby Theatre has also played host to numerous concerts in recent years, such as: The B-52s,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Jennifer |date=September 7, 2018 |title=Roam if they want to: The B-52s play a benefit concert for Kitchen Angels |work=Santa Fe, New Mexican}}</ref> Wilco,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Sandford |first=Brian |date=September 9, 2022 |title=Returning to their country roots: Wilco |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref> and also St. Vincent and Andrew Bird. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Levin |first=Jennifer |date=September 14, 2018 |title=Music for money: Noise for NOW |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref>

===Stieren Orchestra Hall===
[[File:Stieren Hall-Santa Fe Opera.JPG|thumb|Rear view 3-level Stieren Hall with its large doors to accommodate large pieces of scenery moved along the deck which adjoins the theatre]]

Completed for the 2001 season under the patronage of Arthur and Jane Stieren, the hall fulfills the long-standing need for an orchestra rehearsal hall. Constructed on three levels with a total of {{convert|12650|sqft|m2}}, the building is also used for lectures, recitals, and social events.

On its main level, guide rails attached to the ceiling indicate the dimensions of the theatre's main stage and offstage wings. This allows for scenery to be placed correctly, with access via large sliding doors from the scenery deck level, thus allowing fully staged rehearsals. The upper level contains rehearsal studios for one-on-one coaching for singers while the lower level features a large air-conditioned costume storage facility. The roof of Stieren Orchestra Hall is home to 135 solar panels as the SFO begins to move towards solar power.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Vitu |first=Teya |date=2023-04-24 |title=Santa Fe Opera adding more solar panels |work=The Santa Fe New Mexican}}</ref>

===Rehearsal halls===
[[File:Richard Gaddes Rehearsal Hall-Santa Fe Opera.jpg|thumb|left|Gaddes Rehearsal Hall]]
Eight rehearsal halls exist on the campus grounds. They vary in size from the reproduction of the full-scale of the Crosby Theatre's stage and down to individual coaching studios for one-on-one coaching. Of the former group, the newest, completed for the 2010 season, is the Richard Gaddes Rehearsal Hall. It complements the existing full-size O'Shaughnessy Hall, which was rehabilitated for the 2012 season. In addition, six other halls of varying sizes allow several productions to be rehearsed simultaneously.

===Dapples Pavilion, new cantina===
[[File:Dapples Pavilion-Santa Fe Opera.jpg|thumb|Dapples Pavilion]]
The original "cantina" dating from the 1970s was completely torn down after the 2007 season and construction of a new one was completed in time for the opening of the 2008 season. It contains modern kitchen facilities, new serving stations, and generally good protection from the rain for its patrons. Its arching roof matches the architectural lines of the Crosby Theatre and it bears some resemblance to the roofline of [[Denver Airport]].

Now known as the Dapples Pavilion (named after long-time supporter Florence Dapples), the cantina supplies season-long food and drink for the staff and artists from breakfast time to mid-afternoon. In addition, it functions as the location for pre-performance Preview Buffet dinners for up to about 200 members of the general public in the evenings. The evening includes an introductory talk about the evening's opera.