Madame Mao.(Theater Review)

MADAME MAO

(SANTA FE OPERA; 2,126 SEATS; $130 TOP)

SANTA FE, N.M. A Santa Fe Opera presentation of an opera in two acts, with music by Bright Sheng, libretto by Colin Graham. Conductor, John Fiore. Directed by Graham. Sets, Nell Patel; costumes, David C. Woolard; lighting, Rick Fisher; choreography. Lily Cai. Opened July 26, 2003. Reviewed Aug. 14. Running time: 2 HOURS, 30 MIN.

 
Jiang Ching I            Robynne Redmon 
Jiang Ching II             Anna Christy 
Tenor Actor                 Mark Duffin 
Mao Zedong                    Alan Opie 
Soprano Actress/ZhiZhen    Kelly Kaduce 

With: Audrey Luna, Christina Major, Carlos Archuleta, Branch Fields.

For 46 seasons the Santa Fe Opera has prided itself on making the old new and the new challenging. This policy, charted for 43 years by the late John Crosby, now is carried out by Richard Gaddes, who …