- Richard Gaddes
Richard Gaddes (born 23 May 1942 ["International Who's Who In Classical Music", 2003 Edition, p. 262 (Europa Publications Ltd., London, England).] ) is an English-born
opera company administrator based in the United States.Career in England
Gaddes was born in
Wallsend ,England . He studied atTrinity College of Music inLondon . AtWigmore 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 flutevirtuoso James Galway and thesoprano Margaret Price .He formed his own artists management company, then joined
Artists International Management , a company which represents musicians worldwide, includingBeverly Sills and conductor John Pritchard, then music director at theGlyndebourne Festival Opera . On one of John Crosby's regular visits to London to hear new singers for theSanta Fe Opera , a summer opera company in Santa Fe,New Mexico which Crosby directed, Gaddes helped him with the audition process. By December 1968, Crosby suggested the possibility of a job in Santa Fe, and from the 1969 season, he became its Artistic Administrator.Initial career at 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 1971 summer season. (It was not until herRoyal Opera House Covent Garden triumph in December of that year that she achieved international stature). During this period as Artistic Administrator, he introduced artists other than Te Kanawa; these included the conductorEdo de Waart and the mezzoFrederica von Stade (who was also a triumph in the 1971 "Figaro"). In addition, he was instrumental in arranging for the world premiere ofHeitor Villa-Lobos ' "Yerma ," which featured paintings byGiorgio de Chirico .Fact|date=December 2007Opera Theatre of Saint Louis
Although Gaddes remained involved with the Santa Fe Opera, he left in 1976 to establish, as co-founder,
Opera Theatre of Saint Louis and 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 Saint Louis became the first American opera company to be presented at theEdinburgh International Festival .As he notes in a 2001 interview, during this period Gaddes sought out and became instrumental in developing the careers of young singers: "I've been very active in the careers of
Frank Lopardo who is singing "Edgardo" in "Lucia di Lammermoor ". I gave him his professional debut in 1984 at St Louis. I was also the one who foundAlexandra von der Weth , (now singing "Lucia" here). I've been instrumental in the careers ofJerry Hadley ,Thomas Hampson ,Susanne Mentzer andKevin Langan . A lot of young singers either got their experience here in Santa Fe or at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, which was a great place for giving young singers who had graduated from universities or apprentice programs a chance to perform on stage in their own right" [ [http://www.operajaponica.org/interviews/richardgaddes.htm Maria Nockin, "Richard Gaddes", "Opera japonica", August 2001] ] .After leaving Opera Theatre of Saint 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.
Career resumption at Santa Fe Opera
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 the next General Director after John Crosby. He has held this post 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. Gilbert resigned the post in May 2007, andKenneth Montgomery became interim music director for the 2007 season [cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6460.html | title=Alan Gilbert Steps Down as Music Director of Santa Fe Opera | work=Playbill Arts | author=Matthew Westphal | date=8 May 2007 | accessdate=2007-11-21] . In July 2007, SFO and Gaddes namedEdo de Waart the company's new chief conductor, effective 1 October 2007. [cite news | url=http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/65320.html | title=Dutch maestro takes over as chief conductor | work=The New Mexican | author=Craig Smith | date=24 July 2007 | accessdate=2007-07-25] [cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6832.html | title=Santa Fe Opera Names Edo de Waart Chief Conductor | work=Playbill Arts | author=Matthew Westphal | date=24 July 2007 | accessdate=2007-07-25]Under Gaddes, SFO has expanded its community outreach programs. This has included a Fall community production and, in a first for the company, the multi-screen video simulcast of
Natalie Dessay ’s performance in "La sonnambula " given in 2004 at the Fort Marcy Park. The video simulcast was repeated on 11 August 2007 with a performance of "La bohème ".In August 2007, Gaddes announced that he was ready to retire and that he wished SFO to begin a search for his successor, adding that he would remain in the position until his successor as SFO General Director was found. [cite news | url=http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/66317.html | title=SFO to hunt for director’s successor | publisher="The New Mexican" | author=Craig Smith | date=9 August 2007 | accessdate=2007-08-10] [cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/6903.html | title=Santa Fe Opera General Director Submits (Eventual) Resignation | publisher="Playbill Arts" | author=Matthew Westphal | date=9 August 2007 | accessdate=2007-08-10] In November 2007, SFO announced Charles MacKay as the company's next General Director. Gaddes concluded his tenure as SFO General Director with his retirement on 30 September 2008. [cite news | url=http://www.playbillarts.com/news/article/7341.html | title=Santa Fe Opera Appoints New General Director | publisher="Playbill Arts" | author=Matthew Westphal | date=9 November 2007 | accessdate=2007-11-10] [cite news | url=http://www.santafenewmexican.com/SantaFeNorthernNM/Opera_taps_native_son_as_director | title=Opera taps native son as director | publisher="Santa Fe New Mexican" | author=Craig Smith | date=10 November 2007 | accessdate=2007-11-10]
Additional career information
Gaddes is a former Vice President of
Opera America . He has served on panels of theNational 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 theMetropolitan Opera National Council auditions.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 andWebster 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.He was recognized for his services to the arts in New Mexico by proclamation by the governor of New Mexico making September 16th 2008 as "Richard Gaddes Day".
References
ources
* Huscher, Phillip, "The Santa Fe Opera: An American Pioneer", Santa Fe, New Mexico: Sunstone Press, June 2006. ISBN 0-86534-550-3
* Scott, Eleanor, "The First Twenty Years of the Santa Fe Opera", Santa Fe, New Mexico: Sunstone Press, 1976.
* Smith, Craig, "Success on the tightrope: Gaddes balances between the legacy and the future", "The Santa Fe Opera - 50th Anniversary" supplement to "The Santa Fe New Mexican", 28 June 2006.
* "The Santa Fe Opera − Miracle in the Desert", Santa Fe Opera Shop, 2003.External links
* [http://santafeopera.org Santa Fe Opera’s official website]
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