Conductor

On Friday, February 9th, and Sunday, February 11th, 2024 at the Lobero the company presents a new production of Verdi’s 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 tenor Harold Meers (Il tabarro, 2021, Carmen, 2016) soprano Karin Wolverton (Eugene Onegin, 2019), baritone Timothy Mix (Das Rheingold, 2021) and bass Andrew Potter (Don Pasquale, 2021), with mezzo soprano Deborah Nansteel making her company debut. Kostis Protopapas conducts the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus. Chuck Hudson directs a new production designed by Steven Kemp.

EPSG:4326

Il trovatore

Lobero Theatre

The world’s most beloved opera returns to the Granada for the first time since 2016, in a sumptuous fully-staged production starring Sarah Saturnino as Carmen, Nathan Granner as Don José, Anya Matanovic as Micaëla, and Colin Ramsey as Escamillo. The production will be directed by Fenlon Lamb. Opera Santa Barbara’s Artistic and General Director Kostis Protopapas conducts the full forces of the Opera Santa Barbara Orchestra and Chorus, in the opera with which he made his 2016 company debut.

Carmen

Granada Theatre

The official opera season will open at the Granada Theatre with Bizet’s Carmen on Friday, September 29th, 2023, at 7:30pm and Sunday, October 1st, at 2:30pm. Mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, who recently was announced a Grand Finalist Winner in the Metropolitan Opera’s Laffont Competition, makes her OSB debut in the title role, surrounded by a host of company favorite artists. Tenor Nathan Granner and bass-baritone Colin Ramsey make their role debuts as Don José and Escamillo, and soprano Anya Matanovic returns as Micaëla. This production, which will feature dancers from State Street Ballet, will be directed by Fenlon Lamb and conducted by Opera Santa Barbara Artistic and General Director, Kostis Protopapas. This production of Carmen is made possible through generous support from the Granada Theatre. 

Star-crossed lovers Siegmund and Sieglinde unknowingly provoke the wrath of the gods of Valhalla, who decree the death of Siegmund. Brünnhilde, the titular Valkyrie, defies the will of her father Wotan, leader of the gods, to rescue Sieglinde and the couple’s unborn child, in Wagner’s romantic masterpiece that features the famous “Ride of the Valkyries”.

The Valkyrie

Star-crossed lovers Siegmund and Sieglinde unknowingly provoke the wrath of the gods of Valhalla, who decree the death of Siegmund.  Brünnhilde, the titular Valkyrie, defies the will of her father Wotan, leader of the gods, to rescue Sieglinda and the couple’s unborn child, in Wagner’s romantic masterpiece that features the famous “Ride of the Valkyries”.

Die Walküre

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

Set in a time of speakeasies and extravagance, Verdi’s most popular and intimate opera is transported to the Roaring 1920s. At the center of the glitz and glamour is one of opera’s foremost leading ladies, Violetta Valéry.  Known for her legendary parties, the famous courtesan is accustomed to the affection of others, but the young and passionate Alfredo stirs new emotions and a desire to be truly loved. Will Violetta risk it all for this new love?   From high flying melodies, and raucous drinking songs, to soul-baring duets and emotional ensembles, the music of Verdi’s La Traviata perfectly underscores the heights of love and the depths of sacrifice. Experience one of opera’s greatest stories and scores live at the Granada Theatre.  Kostis Protopapas conducts Verdi for the first time at Opera Santa Barbara.  Tara Faircloth (La Rondine, ‘17) directs this new production with scenic & projection design by François-Pierre Couture (Das Rheingold, ’21). Returning to OSB as Violetta is Anya Matanovic, last seen as Abigail Williams in The Crucible. Nathan Granner (Rodolfo, La bohème ’18) plays Alfredo, and baritone Joel Balzun makes his OSB debut as Alfredo’s father, Giorgio Germont. The production will feature dancers from State Street Ballet.

La Traviata

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.

Kostis Protopapas

Conductor

Events

9 - 11 Feb, 2024

Il trovatore · Opera Santa Barbara

Oct 1, 2023

Carmen · Lobero Theatre

Sep 29 - Oct 1, 2023

Carmen · Opera Santa Barbara

Apr 23, 2023

The Valkyrie · Opera Santa Barbara

Apr 23, 2023

Die Walküre · Opera Santa Barbara

About

Kostis Protopapas hasn't added a bio