Opera season is here! We are lucky to have such a beautiful performance venue for these amazing shows.
The Santa Fe Opera’s Crosby Theater has earned a reputation as one of the world’s most unique outdoor performance venues. The need to increase seating capacity, preserve the unique environmental performance experience, provide full coverage of the audience and seamlessly incorporate the theatrical systems was a challenge embraced by the entire design team.
Incorporating the original roof supporting star columns, two new roof canopies replaced the stage and auditorium canopies to form an acoustically reflective steel-ribbed, cable stayed structure. The firm analyzed individual sight-lines to expand the orchestra seating level and balcony boosting the seating capacity from 1,880 to 2,126 seats, while maintaining optimal views of the stage and developing a lobby plaza and bars. The new balcony canopy and over stage roof come together at their intersecting apex with a clerestory truss covering all the seats, while maintaining the feeling of the distinctive open-air quality that is one of the theater’s most alluring attributes. A clear vista over the stage house to the mountains in the distance is maintained.
The space is a direct reflection of the Opera’s ongoing mission to introduce new work and offer quality productions while maintaining an atmosphere unlike any other opera house in the world.
AUERBACH GLASOW Architectural Lighting