Richard Gaddes (23 May 1942 – 12 December 2023) was a British opera company administrator based in the United States.

[3] At Wigmore Hall, he created a series of lunchtime concerts designed to give young musicians opportunities to perform.

During a visit by John Crosby to hear new singers for the Santa Fe Opera, Gaddes helped him with the audition process.

[4] With his knowledge of the British operatic and musical scene, 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.

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.

[6] In a 2001 interview, Gaddes commented on his talent-spotting and encouragement of young singers: I've been very active in the careers of Frank Lopardo who is singing "Edgardo" in Lucia di Lammermoor.

Continuing as a consultant to the Santa Fe Opera's Apprentice Program for Artists from 1988 until 1994, Gaddes 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.

[8] In July 2007, SFO and Gaddes named Edo de Waart the company's new chief conductor, effective 1 October 2007.

These 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.