Richard Gaddes (b. 194??, England) has been the General Director of the Santa Fe Opera in New Mexico since September 2000. The company, founded by John Crosby in 1957 is celebrating its 50th Anniversary season in 2006. The Santa Fe Opera is an opera company in Santa Fe, New Mexico. ... Official language(s) None; English and Spanish de facto Capital Largest city Santa Fe Albuquerque Area  Ranked 5th  - Total 121,665 sq. ... 1957 (MCMLVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

In England

Born in England , Richard Gaddes studied at Trinity College of Music in London. At Wigmore Hall, London’s famed recital hall, he created a series of lunchtime concerts designed to give young musicians opportunities to perform. This introduced such artists as flute virtuoso James Galway and the soprano Margaret Price. Trinity College of Music is one of the UKs top [[music conservatory|music conservatories], based in Greenwich, London, England. ... London is the capital city of the United Kingdom and of England and is the most populous city in the European Union. ... The Wigmore Hall is a concert hall specialising in classical music in Wigmore Street London. ... James Galway Sir James Galway (born December 8, 1939) is an Northern Ireland-born flute player from Belfast, often called The Man With the Golden Flute. ...

He formed his own artists management company, then joined Artists International Management, a company which represents musicians worldwide. At that time he met John Crosby, who invited him to come to Santa Fe in 1969 as its Artistic Administrator.

At the Santa Fe Opera

Given his knowledge of the British operatic and musical scene of the day, Gaddes was instrumental in spotting the talent of Kiri Te Kanawa and bringing her to the Santa Fe Opera as the “Countess” in The Marriage of Figaro for her US debut during the summer 1971 season. (It was not until her Royal Opera House Covent Garden triumph in December of that year that she achieved international stature). In addition to Te Kanawa during this period as Artistic Administrator, he introduced artists such as the conductor Edo de Waart and Frederica von Stade (who was also a triumph in the 1971 Figaro), plus the world premiere of Heitor Villa-Lobos' Yerma, which featured paintings by Giorgio de Chirico. Kiri Te Kanawa Dame Kiri Te Kanawa ONZ AC DBE (born March 6, 1944), is an internationally famous New Zealand opera singer. ... QPAC poster for The Marriage of Figaro Le nozze di Figaro ossia la folle giornata (Trans:The Marriage of Figaro ), K. 492, is an opera buffa (comic opera) composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with libretto by Lorenzo da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, Le... The Floral Hall of the Royal Opera House The Royal Opera House is a performing arts venue in London. ... Edo de Waart (born June 1, 1941) is a prominent Dutch orchestral conductor. ... Frederica von Stade (b. ... Heitor Villa-Lobos Heitor Villa-Lobos (March 5, 1887 - November 17, 1959) was a Brazilian composer. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Giorgio de Chirico in 1936 photographed by Carl Van Vechten. ...

Founder of the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

Gaddes remained involved with the Santa Fe Opera until he left in 1976 to establish, as co-founder, the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. He served as its General Director until 1987. Under his leadership, the company achieved international recognition for the development of young artists, the discovery of new singers given the opportunity to perform important roles, and the presentation of a varied repertory. For example, in 1983, Opera Theatre of St. Louis became the first American opera company to be presented at the Edinburgh International Festival. The Edinburgh International Festival is a festival of performing arts that takes place in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland over three weeks around the end of August. ...

After retiring from the Opera Theatre in St. Louis, Gaddes became President of Grand Center of St. Louis, a midtown performing arts district and served as its President until 1994. He continues to serve on its Board.

Back to Santa Fe

Continuing as a consultant to The Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program for Artists from 1988 until 1994, he rejoined the company full time in that year as Vice Chairman of the Capital Campaign for the planned new theater, the third on the original site. He was appointed Associate General Director of The Santa Fe Opera in 1995 and, in May 1998, was named to succeed Founder/ Director John Crosby. He has been General Director since 2000.

As General Director in Santa Fe, Gaddes seeks to bring to Santa Fe the most important singers, conductors, directors and designers from this country and abroad. He has continued and broadened the Company’s long-standing commitment to the performance of new and unusual works. In 2003 he appointed Alan Gilbert as the Company’s first Music Director. The Company’s outreach and presence throughout New Mexico has been expanded; this has included a Fall community production and, a first for the company, the simulcast of Natalie Dessay’s La sonnambula given in 2004 before a large and enthusiastic crowd in downtown Santa Fe. 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Professor Alan Gilbert, born in Brisbane on 11 September 1944, once a historian is now President and Vice Chancellor of the University of Manchester. ... Natalie Dessay (born in Lyon, 19 April 1965) is an important French opera soprano. ... La Sonnambula is an opera by Vincenzo Bellini. ...

Broad experience

Mr. Gaddes is a former Vice President of Opera America. He has served on panels of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Institute for Music Theatre (formerly the National Opera Institute), and as consultant for the William Matheus Sullivan Musical Foundation. He is currently on the Board of Directors of the Pulitzer Foundation for the Arts and is a frequent judge at national and international voice competitions including the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. The National Endowment for the Arts is a United States federally funded program that offers support and funding for projects that exhibit artistic excellence. ... The Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, seen from Lincoln Center Plaza A full house at the old Metropolitan Opera House, seen from the rear of the stage, at the Metropolitan Opera House for a concert by pianist Józef Hofmann, November 28, 1937. ...

Honors and awards

The recipient of numerous honors and awards, Gaddes has been cited by Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity, St. Louis Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America Lamplighter Award, and as the first annual Missouri Arts Award honoree, the Human Relations Award of the St. Louis Jewish-American Committee, National Institute for Music Theatre Award and Young Audiences' Cultural Achievement Award. He has received honorary doctorates from St. Louis Conservatory and Schools for the Arts, University of Missouri and Webster University. He has been honored by the Mayor of Santa Fe for his contribution to the arts, and by New Mexico Business Weekly as one of the 2005 “Top 10 Power People in the Arts.”. Gaddes has also been a frequent juror for international voice competitions. The University of Missouri System is the designated public research and land-grant university system of the state of Missouri. ... Webster University is located in Webster Groves, Missouri, a suburb of St. ...

External links

• Santa Fe Opera’s official website