Carmen 1964
Doomed love…
…of fiery Carmen and her soldier, with the passions of the bullring…
Synopsis
Act I
In a square in Seville, lounging dragoons watch the passers-by. They try to flirt with a country girl who is looking for a corporal named Jose, but she runs away. When Jose arrives with his platoon, he is told about the girl and he guesses that it is Micaela from his village in Navarra. As noon approaches, the square begins to fill with men who are waiting to see the cigarette factory workers who come out every day at that time. Their favorite is a gypsy named Carmen who taunts them with a song. Jose pays no attention to her, and this attracts her attention. She throws a flower at his feet, provoking giggles from the rest of the cigarette girls.
Left alone, Jose feels impelled to pick up the flower, but he conceals it when Micaela returns with a letter from his mother. Micaela has no sooner left when there are screams from the cigarette factory and girls come running through the door. Carmen and Manuelita, another worker, have been having a fight inside, and Manuelita has been wounded. The lieutenant, Zuniga, orders the arrest of Carmen. Her hands are tied, and Jose is to cake her to prison. Left alone with Jose, she invites him to a rendezvous at a tavern outside Seville if he will permit her to escape. He agrees, and as he is leading her off, he allows her to knock him over, effectively blocking the other guards.
Act II
At the tavern of Lillas Pastia, soldiers, townsmen and gypsies are drinking and singing. Escamillo, the toreador, passing by in a torch-light procession, is invited to join them. He is immediately attracted co Carmen. Zuniga, also attracted to her, promises to return later, although Carmen tries to dissuade him. After all have left, Carmen’s smuggler friends try to persuade her to use her charms to induce Jose to join their band. When he enters, just released from prison, she makes the attempt, but he refuses. As he is about to leave, Zuniga returns and becomes involved in a sword fight with Jose. The smugglers disarm them both, but Jose, having drawn his sword on an officer, now has no choice but to join the gypsies.
Act III
Months have passed and Carmen’s affections for Jose have cooled. The smugglers meet in a mountain pass and pause while scouts are sent ahead to see if the way is clear. Jose tells Carmen that he would rather kill her than leave her. Reading her fortune in the cards, Carmen foresees that this will happen. The smugglers leave with part of the contraband and Jose is left to guard the rest.
Brought by a guide, Micaela comes in search of Jose. Believing that he is shooting at her, she runs to hide when Jose fires his rifle at a man coming up the path. It is Escamillo looking for Carmen. The two men draw their daggers, but the fight is stopped by the return of the smugglers. Escamilla leaves, inviting the band to attend the coming bullfight. Micaela is discovered and tells Jose that his mother is at the point of death. Now he has to leave, but before going, he threatens Carmen once more.
Act IV
It is the day of the bullfight and vendors crowd the square in front of the arena. At the height of the procession of bullfighters, Escamilla appears with Carmen on his arm. Frasquita and Mercedes warn Carmen that Jose is in the crowd, but she refuses to leave. Faced by Jose, she spurns his offer to take her away and throws at him the ring which he had given her. He stabs her, and as the crowd pours into the square, he admits his guilt and asks to be arrested.
Artists
Beverly Wolff
Mezzo-soprano
Carmen (July 10 - 15, August 5 - 21)
Beverly Wolff
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
SFO Debut:
Carmen, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 15, August 5 – 21)
Elaine Bonazzi
Mezzo-soprano
Carmen (July 18 - 25)
Elaine Bonazzi
SFO Debut:
Mrs. Linton, Wuthering Heights, 1958
Past Seasons:
Mrs. Peachum, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Herodias, Salome, 1976
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (August 12 – 18)
Old Woman, Yerma, 1971
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Herodias, Salome, 1967
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1964
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1964
Carmen, Carmen, 1964 (July 18 – 25)
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1963
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Death, Le Rossignol, 1963
St. Catherine, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Herodias, Salome, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Mother, Mavra, 1962
Death, Le Rossignol, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Duchess of Plaza-Toro, The Gondoliers, 1960
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1960
Regina Giddens, Regina, 1959
Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Smeaton, Anna Bolena, 1959
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1958
George Shirley
Tenor
Don Jose (10, 15, 25 & August 5)
George Shirley
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
SFO Debut:
Oedipus, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Past Seasons:
L’Egisto, L’Egisto, 1974
Oleander, Melusine, 1972
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1972 (July 8 – 14)
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, 1972
Alfredo, La traviata, 1970 (August 8 – 22)
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1969 (August 21 – 23)
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 20 – 27)
King Leandro, The Stag King, 1965
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1965 (August 14 – 25)
Edgardo, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Alfredo, La traviata, 1965 (August 20 – 28)
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1964 (July 17 – August 29)
Alwa, Lulu, 1964
Apollo, Daphne, 1964
Don Jose, Carmen, 1964 (July 10, 15, 25, August 5)
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1963 (July 6 – 10, August 17 – 23)
Alwa, Lulu, 1963
Porcus, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, 1963
Italian Tenor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1962
Glade Peterson
Tenor
Don Jose (July 18, August 15 - 21)
Glade Peterson
Hometown: Fairview, UT
SFO Debut:
Don José, Carmen, 1964 (July 18, August 15 – 21)
Past Seasons:
Don José, Carmen, 1967
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1967 (July 29 – August 26)
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1966 (August 17 – 25)
Leukippos, Daphne, 1964 (July 29)
Rodolfo, La bohème, 1964 (August 7 – 19)
John Reardon
Baritone
Escamillo (July 10 - August 5)
John Reardon
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Past Seasons:
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Dr. Stone, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 1969
Dr. Stone, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Urbain Grandier, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Belcore, The Elixir of Love, 1968
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1968
Pentheus, The Bassarids, 1968
Figaro, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Cardillac, Cardillac, 1967
Jochanaan, Salome, 1967
Dandini, Cinderella, 1966 (August 18 – 26)
Mandryka, Arabella, 1965
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Platon Kusmich Kovalioff, The Nose, 1965
Escamillo, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – August 5)
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Herr von Faninal, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, 1963
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1963 (July 6 – August 2)
Scarpia, Tosca, 1962
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Scarpia, Tosca, 1960
Chester Ludgin
Baritone
Escamillo (August 15 - 21)
Chester Ludgin
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, Rigoletto, 1964 (August 26 – 29)
Past Seasons:
Scarpia, Tosca, 1966 (August 17 – 25)
Rigoletto, Rigoletto, 1966
Escamillo, Carmen, 1964 (August 15 – 21)
Catherine Christensen
Soprano
Micaela
Catherine Christensen
Hometown: Chicago, IL
SFO Debut:
Micaela, Carmen, 1964
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1961, 1962, 1963
Past Seasons:
Sister Constance, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Zerlina, Don Giovanni, 1966
Zdenka, Arabella, 1965
Podtotchina’s Daughter, The Nose, 1965
La Princesse, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Lauretta, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
First Maiden, Daphne, 1964
Cook, Le Rossignol, 1963
Child, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Slave, Salome, 1962
Kate, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1962
Chambermaid, News of the Day, 1961
Adib Fazah
Baritone
Morales
Adib Fazah
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
SFO Debut:
Morales, Carmen, 1964
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1960
Past Seasons:
Lilaque fils, Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Captain of the Guard, Cardillac, 1967
Schaunard, La bohème, 1967
Second Nazarene, Salome, 1967
Officer, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Masetto, Don Giovanni, 1966
Angelotti, Tosca, 1966 (July 2 – 16)
Wozzeck, Wozzeck, 1966
Rigoletto, Rigoletto, 1964 (July 1 – 17)
Schaunard, La bohème, 1964 (August 19 – 28)
L’Horloge, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Antonio, The Gondoliers, 1960
Baron Duphol, La traviata, 1960
Peter Harrower
bass
Zuniga
Peter Harrower
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
SFO Debut:
Frank, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Past Seasons:
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, 1969
Emperor of China, Le Rossignol, 1969
Sarastro, The Magic Flute, 1969
First Nazarene, Salome, 1969
Sarastro, The Magic Flute, 1968
Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Cadmus, The Bassarids, 1968
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Zuniga, Carmen, 1967
First Nazarene, Salome, 1967
La Roche, Capriccio, 1966
Alidoro, Cinderella, 1966
Commendatore, Don Giovanni, 1966
Sparafucile, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 20 – 27)
Count Waldner, Arabella, 1965
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Raimondo, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Advertising Editor/Doctor, The Nose, 1965
Zuniga, Carmen, 1964
Master Amantio, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Animal Trainer, Lulu, 1964
Sparafucile, Rigoletto, 1964
Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Commendatore, Don Giovanni, 1963
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1963
Animal Trainer, Lulu, 1963
Sylvia Davis
Soprano
Frasquita (July 10 - 25)
Sylvia Davis
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Statue, The Stag King, 1965
La Chauve-Souris, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Frasquita, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 25)
Claire Brooks
Soprano
Frasquita (August 5 - 21)
Claire Brooks
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1967
Past Seasons:
Peasant Girl, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Slave, Salome, 1967
Frasquita, Carmen, 1964 (August 5 – 21)
L’Enfant, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Patt O'Neill
Mezzo-soprano
Mercedes
Patt O'Neill
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Flora, La traviata, 1965 (August 7 – 28)
Berta, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Mercedes, Carmen, 1964
Conrad Immel
Baritone
El Dancairo (July 10 - 25)
Conrad Immel
Hometown: Austin, TX
SFO Debut:
Baron Duphol, La traviata, 1965
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
Ivan Ivanovich/ Lackey/ Speculator, The Nose, 1965
Count Dominik, Arabella, 1965
Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Marullo, Rigoletto, 1964
El Dancairo, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 25)
Registrar, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Second Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1963
Musician/ Och’s Servant, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Scene 8 Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
David Barron
Baritone
El Dancairo (August 5 - 21)
David Barron
Hometown: Champaign, IL
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
El Dancairo, Carmen, 1964 (August 5 – 21)
Coachman, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Joseph Demb
Bass
A Guide
Joseph Demb
Hometown: New York, NY
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964
Past Seasons:
A Guide, Carmen, 1964
Director of the Theatre, Lulu, 1964
Martin Eugene Allen
Tenor
El Remendado (July 10 - 25)
Martin Eugene Allen
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962, 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
El Remendado, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 25)
Animal Vendor/ Landlord, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Usher, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Giuseppe, La traviata, 1962
Usher, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Jack O'Neill
Tenor
El Remendado (August 5 - 21)
Jack O'Neill
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Gaston, La traviata, 1965 (August 7 – 28)
El Remendado, Carmen, 1964 (August 5 – 21)
Gherardino, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Vincent Warren
Dancer
Spanish Dancer
Vincent Warren
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
SFO Debut:
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Past Seasons:
Spanish Dancer, Carmen, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Rooster, Renard, 1962
Hairdresser, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Werner Torkanowsky
Conductor
Werner Torkanowsky
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
SFO Debut:
Carmen, 1964
Past Seasons:
La bohėme, 1964 (August 1 – 7)
John Moriarty
Director/ Chorus Master
John Moriarty
Hometown: Fall River, MA
SFO Debut:
Director, Salome, 1962
Past Seasons:
Conductor, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Director/ Chorus Master, La traviata, 1965
Chorus Master, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Chorus Master, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Chorus Master, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Chorus Master, Arabella, 1965
Chorus Master, The Stag King, 1965
Director/ Chorus Master, The Nose, 1965
Chorus Master, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Chorus Master, Rigoletto, 1964
Chorus Master, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Director/ Chorus Master, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Director/ Chorus Master, Carmen, 1964
Chorus Master, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Chorus Master, Daphne, 1964
Chorus Master, La bohėme, 1964
Chorus Master, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Chorus Master, Don Giovanni, 1963
Chorus Master, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Director/ Chorus Master, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Chorus Master, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Chorus Master, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Chorus Master, Le Rossignol, 1963
Henry Heymann
Designer
Scenery & Costumes
Henry Heymann
SFO Debut:
The Barber of Seville, 1959 (Scenic Designer)
Past Seasons:
Salome, 1967 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967 (Costume Designer)
Don Giovanni, 1966 (Costume Designer)
Rigoletto, 1966 (Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1965 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965 (Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Daphne, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Gianni Schicchi, 1964 (Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964 (Scenic Designer)
Carmen, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964 (Costume Designer)
Rigoletto, 1964 (Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963 (Scenic Designer)
Le Rossignol, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Don Giovanni, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Die Fledermaus, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Rake’s Progress, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Tosca, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Perséphone, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Renard, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Mavra, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Le Rossignol, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Salome, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
News of the Day, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
Carmen, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Perséphone, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Tosca, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Rake’s Progress, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
Gianni Schicchi, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Cinderella, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
La traviata, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Gondoliers, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Regina, 1959 (Scenic Designer)
Georg Schreiber
Lighting Designer
Georg Schreiber
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, 1964
Past Seasons:
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Salome, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
La traviata, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
Carmen, 1975
L’Egisto, 1974
Lulu, 1974
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
La bohème, 1974
Owen Wingrave, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Le Rossignol, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
La bohème, 1973
Salome, 1972
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Yerma, 1971
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Carlo, 1971
Opera, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
La traviata, 1970
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Le Rossignol, 1969
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
Salome, 1969
Perséphone, 1968
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
The Bassarids, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
Madame Butterfly, 1968
Salome, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Cardillac, 1967
Carmen, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Nose, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
The Barber of Seville, 1965
La traviata, 1965
Lulu, 1964
La bohème, 1964
Daphne, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Carmen, 1964
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Ron Sequoio
Choreographer
Ron Sequoio
Hometown: Houston, TX
SFO Debut:
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Past Seasons:
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Dr. Medicus, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
La traviata, 1965
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Carmen, 1964
Jack the Ripper, Lulu, 1964
Carmen 1964
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