LA TRAVIATA

Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901)

Opera in three acts in Italian
Libretto: Francesco Maria Piave after Alexander Duma’s play La Dame aux Camélias
Premièr at Teatro la Fenice, Venice – 6 March 1853

31 October 1957

Fox Theater, San Diego

Conductor: Glauco Curiel

Chorus master: Gianni Lazzarini

Stage director: Paul Hager

Scene and costumes: Goldstein & Co.
Choreographer: William Christensen

Alfredo Germont lover of Violetta JOHN CRAIN tenor

Giorgio Germont his father ROBERT MERILL baritone
Gastone de Letorieres a young man about town VIRGINIO ASSANDRI tenor
Baron Douphol a rival of Alfredo MURRAY KENIG baritone
Marchese d’Obigny HARVE PRESNELL bass
Dr. Grenvil CARL PALANGI bass
Giuseppe servant to Violetta WILLIAM L. BOOTH tenor
Violetta Valery a courtesan LEYLA GENCER soprano
Flora Bervoix her friend JAN MCART mezzo-soprano
Annina Violetta’s confident and maid KATHERINE HILGENBERG soprano
Messenger WINTHER ANDERSEN tenor
Majordomo MAX LORENZINI baritone
Solo dancers SALLY BAILET, DIRK CARTER, ROCKY DREW

Time: 1850

Place: Paris and vicinity

Photos © ROBERT LACKENBACH, San Francisco 

BACKSTAGE PICTURES

1957 OCTOBER

AT HER HOTEL

1957 OCTOBER

OPERA NEWS                                           

1957.10.14      

MANON

Jules Massenet (1842 - 1912)

Opera in five acts in French

Libretto: Meilhac & Gille
Premièr at Opéra Comique, Paris – 19 January 1884

27 October 1958

Fox Theater, San Diego

Conductor: Jean Fournet

Chorus master: Gianni Lazzari

Stage director: Enrico Frigerio

Costumes: Goldstein & Co.
Choreographer: Eugene Loring

Manon Lescaut LEYLA GENCER soprano
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

OPERA NEWS                                        

1958.09.23

LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR

Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848)

Opera in two acts in Italian

Libretto: Salvatore Cammarano

Premièr at Teatro San Carlo, Naples – 26 September 1835

07 November 1957

Fox Theater, San Diego

 
Conductor: Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Chorus master: Gianni Lazzarini
Stage director: Carlo Piccinato
Scene and costumes: Golstein & Co.
Choreographer: William Christensen
 
Enrico (Lord Henry Ashton of Lammermoor) UMBERTO BORGHI baritone
Lucia (Lucy) her sister LEYLA GENCER soprano 
Edgardo (Edgar) master of Ravenswood GIANNI RAIMONDI tenor
Arturo (Lard Arthur Bucklaw) CESARE CURZI tenor
Raimondo (Raymond) chaplain at Lammermoor LORENZO ALVARY bass
Alisa (Alice) companion to Lucy JEAN BURLINGHAM mezzo-soprano
Normanno (Norman) follower of Ashton VIRGINIO ASSANDRI tenor
 
Time: About 1700
Place: Scotland

OPERA NEWS                                        

1957.10.14