Taking advantage of the Santa Fe Opera

A world class opera company is located in New Mexico. Doesn't seem very child friendly? A three-hour drive, shows start at dusk (9PM! but later in the season 8:30, then 8PM), ticket prices range from $27-$195.

But wait!

First you should know that not only is the singing good at the Santa Fe opera, but the casting is excellent, the set and staging is awesome and the acting is really good. What does this mean for young kids? There will be no fat ladies dying of tuberculosis at the top of their lungs. There will be action on stage -- most arias (solos to show off the lead character's voice) will have visual as well as vocal appeal. The costumes will be great. The Santa Fe Opera Company collaborates with a dance company. Several years ago we saw a modern opera (Benjamin Britten) where a line-dance of sheep held us spell bound -- I kid you not!

Secondly your child, age six or older, has a special invitation to attend. Youth Night At The Opera are full dress rehearsals where adults can attend only if they bring more kids that adults! Adult tickets are $15, child tickets are $8. There is a mini class for kids called "1-2-3 Opera" held before the show and during intermission.

You should know that the dress rehearsals are EARLY in the season (the full season is July 2-August 28, 2010), and they take place during the work-week:

Madame Butterfly on Monday, June 28
The Magic Flute on Tuesday, June 29
The Tales of Hoffmann on Tuesday, July 13
Albert Herring on Tuesday, July 27

All the operas are in their original language (OK by me since I can't understand the words even when they sing in English). Each seat (and the standing room seats!) have their own "subtitle" display -- in English and Spanish. For younger children this might not help -- after reading the translation they may turn to you and say "what does that mean?". After playing with the buttons you might encourage them to turn it off and just enjoy the spectacle.

We do a dramatic reading during our tailgate-picnic of the opera story from "A Night At The Opera" (Sir Denis Forman, rather than the album by Queen, or the movie by Groucho Marx). Forman's take on opera is lighthearted and silly, covering the basic plot (and pointing out gaping holes) with the right touch for kids.

How to get the most out of the opera? Arrive early with your child's favorite picnic dinner (we do Indian take-out from Albuquerque). If you are attending a non-youth night, prelude talks are given two hours and one hour before the performance. Admire the shiny sparkly stuff for sale in the gift shop. Have a tailgate dinner and watch the sunset, admire the opera house. Rather than getting sleepy, the kids will build excitement for the main event.

Buy sweets at the intermission to maintain the sugar high.

Should you dress up? The Santa Fe Opera has no dress policy: "Whether you prefer casual, informal, or formal attire, your own sense of style is welcome". Our daughter loves to dress up -- it makes the event special and grown up. We do the drive in t-shirt and shorts, then use the outside bathroom (to the right of the entrance) at the opera to emerge in full princess regalia. PJ's are the costume of choice on the way home. Bring a warm blanket into the opera -- you are outside at 7000 feet, and with a summer thunderstorm the temperature could go as low as 40 degrees.

Go Opera! Bravo! Brava! Whatever!