This month sees the return of tenor Barry Banks and soprano Brenda Rae to Santa Fe Opera as the Astrologer in The Golden Cockerel and the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor respectively.

Following Barry’s recent debut as the Astrologer at Teatro Real Madrid in Laurent Pelly’s production under Ivor Bolton, he reprises the role for Paul Curran’s new production of The Golden Cockerel from15 July under the baton of Emmanuel Villaume. Barry will bring the piece to Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw next season in a concert performance conducted by Vasily Petrenko and returns to the stage with it in Dallas in the 2019/20 season.

From 1 July Brenda Rae sings the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor in Ron Daniel’s new production conducted by Corrado Rovaris. Brenda enjoys a busy European season including returns to Bayerische Staatsoper in two of her Strauss calling-card roles – Aminta in Die schweigsame Frau and Zerbinetta (Ariadne auf Naxos) – and makes her debut at La Scala in their annual Christmas concerts.