Stage Director

Singer

EPSG:4326

Cavalleria Rusticana

Lobero Theatre

We couldn't be more proud of our incredible cast, chorus, orchestra, and artistic and office staff for their dedication to this special production. In addition, we extend a sincere thank you to our production sponsor Spectrum Wealth Management and our media sponsor The Indianapolis Star for their generosity. Your support made this production possible!

Carmen

The Center for the Performing Arts

Based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer, The Light in the Piazza tells the story of Margaret Johnson, a wealthy Southern woman and her daughter Clara, who falls in love with a young Italian man during a vacation in Italy. The show opened on Broadway in 2005 and ran for 504 performances. With a sophisticated score that lends itself to operatic voices, the Chicago Tribune hailed it as “the most soul-satisfying score written for Broadway so far this century”, The Light in the Piazza soon entered the repertoire of opera companies across the country.

The Light in the Piazza

Center Stage Theatre

The great diva has it all: beauty, talent, friends in high places, love, and an unshakeable faith in God.  She lives a charmed life, blissfully unaware of the dystopia that surrounds her.  All that will change in one harrowing day and night, in Puccini’s nail-biting melodrama.
Soprano Eleni Calenos last seen in OSB’s Madama Butterfly in 2019 returns to the Granada stage to sing the titular diva. The painter Mario Cavaradossi will be portrayed by Adam Diegel who thrilled Santa Barbara audiences at our 25th anniversary Gala concert. The imposing chief of police, Baron Scarpia will be sung by Wayne Tigges, who sang John Proctor in our production of The Crucible in 2019. Layna Chianakas returns to direct our season opening after a successful double bill of Il Tabarro/ El amor brujo last season at the Lobero. The scenic and projection design for our unique production is created by Yuki Izumihara who wowed audiences with her designs in our production of Semele earlier this year. Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas conducts his first Tosca with our Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus in full force.

Tosca

Granada Theatre

In March, we will present Verdi’s OTELLO in an ambitious production worthy of our return to the Bankhead stage. The crowning work of a master composer at the peak of his creative powers, OTELLO is arguably Verdi’s greatest operatic achievement. Verdi’s adaptation of Shakespeare’s tragic story of jealousy and rage is an opera that ranks among his most demanding, both vocally and dramatically. This production will do justice to Verdi’s tour de force and will be an experience not to be missed. Join us March 5th & 6th, 12th & 13th.

Otello

Livermore Performing Arts Center

Join Opera SB for the perfect Halloween Double Bill! In De Falla’s El Amor Brujo, Candela is haunted by her late husband’s ghost as she tries to move on from her past obsession, and find love with the young Carmelo. This flamenco opera ballet will feature Santa Barbara native, Nina Yoshida Nelsen (Fricka, Das Rheingold ’21), and dancers from State Street Ballet.  Broken dreams, a fateful love affair, and a murder onboard a barge on the seine are accompanied by a haunting score in Puccini’s taut 60’ operatic thriller. Opera Santa Barbara favorites Todd Thomas (Falstaff, ’14) and Harold Meers (Pinkerton, Madama Butterfly ’19) return with director Layna Chianakas, making her mainstage directorial debut with Opera SB in this thrilling double bill. Soprano Alaysha Fox will be making her Opera SB debut in the role of Giorgetta. Scenic designer Steven C. Kemp (Crucible, Eugene Onegin) returns and Maestro Kostis Protopapas takes up the baton.

Stage Director, Singer

Layna Chianakas

Events

Past events

7 - 9 Nov, 2025

Cavalleria Rusticana · Opera Santa Barbara

10 - 12 Nov, 2023

Carmen · Indianapolis Opera

About

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