MANON
Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912)
Opera in five acts in French
Libretto: Meilhac & Gille
Premièr at Opéra Comique, Paris – 19 January 1884
17 October 1958
War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
 
Conductor: Jean Fournet
Chorus master: Gianni Lazzari 
Stage director: Enrico Frigerio
Costumes: Goldstein & Co.
Choreographer: Eugene Loring
 
Manon Lescaut LEYLA GENCER soprano [Role debut]
Chevalier des Grieux RICHARD LEWIS tenor
Count des Grieux, his father LORENZO ALVARY bass
Lescaut Manon's cousin LOUIS QULICO baritone
Guillot Morfontaine, a roué Howard Fried tenor
De Bretigny a nobleman John Gillaspy baritone
Poussette SylvIa Stahlman soprano
Javotte Joan Marie Moynagh soprano
Rosette Margot Blum soprano
Innkeeper Eugene Green
Maid Pauline Pappas
First Guard Robert Thomas
Second Guard Harold Enns
Attendant at St. Sulpice Max Lorenzini
Sergeant Winther Andersen
 
Time: 1721
Place: Amines, Paris, Havre
 
Photos © BILL COGAN, San Francisco














With General Director Adler in a Party





























THE MODESTO BEE                        
1958.06.08

THE PENINSULA TIMES TRIBUNE                                  
1958.06.10

THE BERKLEY GAZETTE                                  
1958.06.12

PATALUMA ARGUS COURIER                               
1958.06.14

SAN MATTEO TIMES                                     
1958.06.20

Opera Repertoire, Casts Are Detailed - San Mateo Times Friday, June 20, 1958 Duo Recite Vows In Berkeley Opera Repertoire, Casts Are Detailed; Cecilia Ward, Katherine Hilgonberg, Giuseppe Taddei, Lorenzo Alvary, John Gillaspy, Richard Wentworth and Virginio Assandri in the first opera, Conductor is Enrico Frigerio, In "Elektra" Christel Goltz, Lisa Delia Casa, Claramae Turner, Arnold Van Mill, Sebastian Fciersinger, and Harold Enns. Leopold Ludwig conducts, Paul Hager is stage director, "Tannhauser”, October 14 and 18 Leonie Rysanek, Grace Hoffman, Sylvia Stahlman, Sebastian FeiersiiiKer, Ernest Blanc, Arnold Van Mill, Harold Enns, Leopold Ludwig and Paul linger are respectively conductor and stage director. ' "Manon" October 17 Leyla Gencer, Sylvia Stahlman, Joan Marie Moynagh, Cecilia Ward, Richard Lewis, Louis Quilico, Lorenzo Alvary, Howard Fried, John Gillaspy. Jean Fournet is conductor, Enrico Frigcrio directs the stage. "Le Nozze di Figaro" October 21 and 23 Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Eugenia Ratti, Cecilia Ward, Katherine Hilgenberg, Joan Marie Moynagh, Rolando Panerai, Giuseppe Modesti, Richard Wentworth, Howard Fried, Raymond Manton, Kurt Herbert Adler is the conductor and Paul Hager the stage director. "II Barbiere di Eiviglia" September 13 Eugenia Ratti, Katherine Hilgenberg, Rolando Panorai, Salvatoro Baceaioni, Giorgio Tozzi, John Gillaspy, Virginio Assandri. Gualco Curie! conducts, Enrico Frigerio is stage director. "Rigoletto" September 25 Leyla Gencer, Cecilia Ward, Katherine Hilgenberg, Gianni Raimondi, Ernest Blanc and Lorenzo Alvary, Conductor is Jean Fournet.


PATALUMA ARGUS COURIER                               
1958.07.26

THE SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER                            
1958.07.28

THE BERKLEY GAZETTE                        
1958.08.28

THE COVINA ARGUS                                        
1958.09.18

OPERA NEWS                                   
1958.09.23

OPERA NEWS                                   
1958.09.29

SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER                                             
1958.10.17

PATALUMA ARGUS COURIER                               
1958.10.18

SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER                                             
1958.10.19

SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER                                             
1958 November
OPERA MAGAZINE                                           
1959 January

STATE OPERA MAGAZINE                                         
1959.01.04

SANFRANCISCO OPERA HOUSE PROGRAMME                                            
2018