Stories like this have been told literally thousands of times in homes all across the Southwest. Venerated since the eighth century, the Santo Niño is an important part of both the Native American and the Hispanic traditions. People pray to the Santo Niño for healing, mainly of children, and devoted pilgrims frequently leave children's shoes at his shrines. Many believe that he wears the shoes out at night when he goes walking secretly visiting children while they are asleep in order to heal them. The most famous shrines to the Santo Niño are in Fresnillo, Zacatecas, Mexico and Chimayo, New Mexico. This story was written in the 1930s by famed New Mexico author Peggy Pond Church and lost for almost seven decades. Re-discovered, it is now brought back to life with full-color illustrations by award-winning Santa Fe artist Charlie Carrillo.

The Santa Fe Opera and University of New Mexico School of Fine Arts have embarked on a joint production of a new children’s opera. The opera, based on the children’s story Shoes for Santo Niño by Peggy Pond Church, is being written by the American composer Stephen Paulus. Andrea Fellows Walters, The Santa Fe Opera’s Director of Education and Community Programs, is the librettist. The partnership is the first between the two institutions which will share all production costs.

The 35-minute work to be conducted by Bradley Ellingboe, calls for two adult soloists, three children, a chamber orchestra and UNM Children’s Chorus, prepared by Regina Carlow and Julia Church Hoffman. The project is part of a new initiative by The Santa Fe Opera to present important musical works that families can enjoy together. Brian J. Bustos is scenic and costume designer, Kathleen Clawson is stage director.

There will be three performances at the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque and three at the Lensic Performing Arts Center in Santa Fe. The first Santa Fe performance will take place on January 6, 2012, in honor of the one hundredth anniversary of New Mexico’s statehood, and the following day. NHCC and the Lensic are presenting partners for the project.

Stephen Paulus is one the country’s best known contemporary composers. Known for his operas, the list includes The Postman Always Rings Twice, Heloise and Abelard, The Woman at Otowi Crossing, and The Woodlanders. Paulus’s credits include more than 350 works for a broad range of ensembles: orchestra, chorus, chamber groups, and solo singers.

Andrea Fellows Walters, a New Mexico native, is a graduate of the University of New Mexico. She served as the librettist for Trinity, an opera written by John Kennedy for students which was performed state-wide in 2006. As director of education and community programs Walters has greatly expanded the scope and direction of the Company’s profile in New Mexico.

Brian J. Bustos is a New Mexico native who received his early training at The Santa Fe Opera as a costume technical apprentice. After completing the program he remained with the Company for five years. He now lives in New York where he has a rising career. He was associate costume designer for Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Shrek the Musical, both of which won Tony awards for Best Costume Design. Other Broadway productions on which he has worked include NINE, the Musical, A Little Night Music and The Little Mermaid. Bustos received his BFA from the University of New Mexico.

Kathleen Clawson is a well-known singer who has appeared in opera and oratorio productions throughout the U.S. Professor of Musical Theater at UNM, she has directed productions in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and in a number of opera houses. She is active on The Santa Fe Opera music staff as well as Young Voices, the Opera’s training program for high school students.

The writings of Peggy Pond Church reflect her lifelong love of her native New Mexico and its landscape. A highly regarded poet, she published eight volumes of poetry, in addition to fiction. She is best known for her book The House at Otowi Bridge. Ms. Church was the recipient of numerous honors including the Governor’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. She was named a Santa Fe Living Treasure in 1986. Shoes for Santo Niño, written in 1930, was rediscovered 70 years after its publication. It is now in print with illustrations by Charles M. Carrillo, a well-known New Mexico painter. 

Running Time: 35 minutes