Opera Santa Barbara (OSB) has announced the mainstage repertoire for its 2026-27 season at the Lobero Theatre, which has been increased from two to eight performances, thanks to a major donation to the company.

The upcoming season is the company’s 32nd, and the 10th curated by Kostis Protopapas, artistic/general director.

“The season builds on 2½ years of acclaimed, sold-out productions, and continues the company’s commitment to a repertoire mix that pairs cherished classics with lesser-known works, original productions designed specifically for the Lobero, and the artistic talent of California-based artists and alumni of the company’s Chrisman Studio Program,” OSB officials said.

This is the first season to reflect the impact of a major five-year financial commitment by long-time supporter Cheryl Goldberg, announced in November, according to OSB.

The Goldberg gift makes possible an immediate expansion of the season, OSB said. Each of the first two operas, “Rigoletto” and “The Barber of Seville,” will have three performances instead of the company’s traditional two, increasing the total mainstage performance count to eight.

“As we look ahead, we do so with gratitude and momentum,” said Protopapas. “Our last two seasons have played to consistently strong houses, and our connection with our audience and community has never been deeper. The Goldberg commitment lets us share more of this work with more people.”

Season packages and single tickets are now available for all performances.

The opera season opens in November with Giuseppe Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” which tells the story of a court jester whose biting humor at the expense of a grieving father brings down a devastating curse on his own daughter.

The production reunites director Octavio Cardenas and designer Daniel Chapman, the team behind the company’s recent productions of “Pagliacci” and “Zorro.”

Kostis Protopapas conducts and the cast includes:Kostis Protopapas conducts and the cast includes:

• Ben Lowe (baritone) returning in the title role of the fateful jester. Lowe last sang with OSB as Tonio in “Pagliacci” in 2024. • Oriana Falla (soprano), the heroine of the company’s 2024 “Zorro,” sings Rigoletto’s daughter Gilda. • Arnold Geis (tenor) makes his OSB debut as the Duke of Mantua, who sings the famous aria “La donna è mobile.” Recent credits include appearances with the San Francisco Symphony and New York Philharmonic. • Colin Ramsey, the company’s resident bass powerhouse portrays the assassin Sparafucile. • Santa Barbara-born mezzo-soprano Xeni Tziouvaras makes her company debut as the alluring Maddalena

Performance dates are:
• Friday, Nov. 6, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 8, 2:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7:30 p.m.

Next up, in February, is Gioachino Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville,” for which the company shifts the tone with one of opera’s most beloved comedies.

“Bursting with energy, clever disguises, and some of the most recognizable music in the repertoire, ‘The Barber of Seville’ will be staged in a new production by director Richard Gammon, who directed “An American Dream’ at OSB in 2023, drawing inspiration from the visual world of Looney Tunes cartoons,” OSB said. Lyndon Meyer makes his company debut on the podium.

“The Barber of Seville” cast:“The Barber of Seville” cast:

• Matthew Peterson (baritone), a Chrisman Studio alumnus, returns to the company in his role debut as Figaro, the eponymous Barber of Seville. • Chris Mosz (tenor) returns as Count Almaviva, and Mattia Venni (bass-baritone) returns as Doctor Bartolo. Both were members of the cast of OSB’s recent “Daughter of the Regiment.” • Sunwoo Park (soprano), who played Susanna in OSB’s 2025 “Marriage of Figaro,” returns as Rosina.

Performance dates:
• Friday, Feb. 19, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Feb. 21, 2:30 p.m.
• Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m.

A free student matinee performance of “The Barber of Seville” will take place Monday, Feb. 22.

The season concludes in April 2027 with the California premiere of Craig Bohmler and Steven Mark Kohn’s “Riders of the Purple Sage,” a contemporary American opera based on the classic 1912 Western novel by Zane Grey.

Set in Utah Territory in the 1870s, the work blends the grandeur of the American frontier with rich, cinematic storytelling. The opera premiered to sold-out houses and critical acclaim at Arizona Opera in 2017.

The OSB production is staged by Tara Faircloth, whose previous OSB credits include “La Rondine” (2017), “La Traviata” (2022), and “Elmer Gantry” (2026); and conducted by veteran conductor Joseph Mechavich, who led the 2017 world premiere and makes his Opera Santa Barbara debut.

“Riders of the Purple Sage” cast:“Riders of the Purple Sage” cast:

• Karin Wolverton (soprano) reprises her role from the world premiere as Jane Withersteen, the landowner standing up to a ranchers’ patriarchal establishment. Wolverton has appeared with OSB in “Eugene Onegin” and “Il Trovatore.”
• Keith Phares (baritone), last seen with OSB in “Carmen” (2016), is Tull, the rancher who seeks to marry Jane in order to take possession of her land.
• Luis Alejandro Orozco (baritone), who has sung four roles with Opera Santa Barbara since 2015, returns as the outlaw Lassiter, who steps in to protect Jane.
• Joshua Dennis (tenor) makes his OSB debut as Venters, Jane’s young ranch hand.

Performance Dates:

• Friday, April 23, 7:30 p.m. • Sunday, April 25, 2:30 p.m.

Ticket Prices and Season Packages

Single tickets start at $35 for midweek performances, $52 for Fridays. Season ticket holders receive priority seating, the lowest prices of the season, and access to renewal pricing on future seasons. Subscription packages and single tickets are available now.

Tickets available at Lobero Theatre Box Office, 33 E. Canon Perdido St., Santa Barbara; call 805-963-0761; or visit lobero.org.

OSB strongly advises patrons to purchase tickets only through the Lobero Theatre Box Office. Please confirm that the website on which you are completing your purchase ends in lobero.org.

Purchases made through third-party resale sites carry the risk of inflated prices and unverified seating.

For more about the new season, upcoming events, and a detailed archive of past productions can be found at operasb.org.