Feuersnot 1988
This allegorical one-act opera…
…based on a Flemish legend, involves fantasy and wizardry during the summer solstice.
Synopsis
Act I
The streets of Munich are filled with people busy preparing for the Midsummer Night’s bonfires and celebrating the Feast of St. John. Children go from door to door collecting firewood. In keeping with tradition, every citizen contributes their share of wood as do the Mayor and his daughter, Diemut. Only one door remains shut. It is Kunrad’s door. Kunrad is an outsider who excites the prejudice and curiosity of his neighbors. Obsessed with his books he pays no attention to the outside world until the children call him out. Only then does he realize how close he came to missing the most beautiful night of the year and out of gratitude he donates all his possessions to be burnt. He decides on the spur of the moment to abandon his solitary studies and learn from life instead. Instantly he falls in love with Diemut and kisses her in front of the crowd. The conventional burghers and townsfolk are horrified and the young girl feels humiliated. As everyone goes to light the fire Diemut stays and prepares her revenge on Kunrad. He wants to gain admittance to her room, but she refuses. Appearing on her balcony she suggests he get into the log basket so she can pull him up to her. Half-way up she suspends him. Her girlfriends call the townsfolk back to mock the unfortunate Kunrad. Angrily he calls upon the spirits of his old Masters and with their help he renders total darkness (“Feuersnot“). He reaches Diemut’s balcony and addresses the crowd, haranguing them for their intolerance and narrow-mindedness. Only love, he warns them, will re-light the fires. The people are overcome with despair and beg Diemut to surrender to Kunrad. She admits him to her room. A small glimmer of light is then noticed from her window and soon the bonfires are lit and all light returns. Everyone celebrates the love between Diemut and Kunrad.
Artists
Mildred Tyree
Soprano
Diemut
Mildred Tyree
Hometown: New Jersey
SFO Debut:
Helena, The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Past Seasons:
Diemut, Feuersnot, 1988
Brent Ellis
Baritone
Kunrad
Brent Ellis
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
SFO Debut:
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Giorgio Germont, La traviata, 1989
Kunrad, Feuersnot, 1988
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
The Confidence Man, The Confidence Man, 1982
Marcello, La bohème, 1981
Germont, La traviata, 1980
Enrico Ashton, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979 (July 5 – August 4)
Germont, La traviata, 1976 (July 30 – August 28)
Ford, Falstaff, 1975
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 1975 (August 9 – 22)
Escamillo, Carmen, 1975 (August 2, 15)
Marcello, La bohème, 1974
Ipparco, L’Egisto, 1974
Marcello, La bohème, 1973
Second Nazarene, Salome, 1972
Masetto, Don Giovanni, 1972
John Kuether
Bass
Sentlinger
John Kuether
SFO Debut:
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Past Seasons:
Filch, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Doctor/Citizen, The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
Larkens, La fanciulla del West, 1991
Hosea, Judith, 1990
Truffaldino, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
Le Philosophe, Chérubin, 1989
Mongolian Soldier, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
François Tortebat, The Black Mask, 1988
Sentlinger, Feuersnot, 1988
Vanuzzi, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
James Ramlet
Bass
Pöschel
James Ramlet
SFO Debut:
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1986
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1984, 1985
Past Seasons:
Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Doctor Grenvil, La traviata, 1991
Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Doctor Grenvil, La traviata, 1989
Poschel, Feuersnot, 1988
Sergeant Major, Friedenstag, 1988
Plebanus Wendt, The Black Mask, 1988
Farfallo, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1987
Advertising Editor/Doctor, The Nose, 1987
Prime Minister, The King Goes Forth to France, 1986
Mr. Jones/The Judge, The English Cat, 1985
Master of the Ship, The Tempest, 1985
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1984 (July 4 – 30)
Officer 4/Minister 3/Victim 13, We Come to the River, 1984
Cheyne Davidson
Baritone
Hämerlein
Cheyne Davidson
Hometown: Ohio
SFO Debut:
Hämerlein, Feuersnot, 1988
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1984, 1985
Past Seasons:
Officer, Friedenstag, 1988
Francisco, The Tempest, 1985
Second Soldier, Violanta, 1984
Officer 3/Minister 2/Victim 11, We Come to the River, 1984
Darren Keith Woods
Tenor
Tulbeck
Darren Keith Woods
Hometown: Falfurrias, TX
SFO Debut:
Blind, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1982, 1983
Past Seasons:
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1995
Joe, La fanciulla del West, 1995
Second Jew, Salome, 1995
Monsieur Taupe, Capriccio, 1993
False Assistant, The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993
Blind, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Animal Vendor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
Joe, La fanciulla del West, 1991
Gastone, La traviata, 1989
Animal Vendor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Schedel, The Black Mask, 1988
Tulbeck, Feuersnot, 1988
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Clarity James
Mezzo-soprano
Ursula
Clarity James
Hometown: Sunrise, WY
SFO Debut:
Gaea, Daphne, 1981
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Mrs. Trapes, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Elderly Woman/Society Lady/Widow/Heinrich’s Mother/Citizen, The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
Alto Voice, The Black Mask, 1988
Ursula, Feuersnot, 1988
Mary, The Flying Dutchman, 1988
Nurse, L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Omniscient Mussel, The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Lady Toodle, The English Cat, 1985
Leda, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Barbara, Violanta, 1984
Old Woman, We Come to the River, 1984
Leda, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Mrs. Orchis, The Confidence Man, 1982
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
James Busterud
Baritone
Kofel
James Busterud
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
SFO Debut:
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1987 (July 1 – 24)
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1982
Past Seasons:
Le Comte, Chérubin, 1989
Chao Lin as a Young Man, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Dr. Falke, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Kofel, Feuersnot, 1988
Bishop, Friedenstag, 1988
Mark Thomsen
Tenor
The Bailiff
Mark Thomsen
Hometown: Burnsville, MN
SFO Debut:
Henry, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Past Seasons:
Girika, Ashoka’s Dream, 1997
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, 1996 (June 29 – July 12)
Leukippos, Daphne, 1996
Millais, Modern Painters, 1995
Flamand, Capriccio, 1993
Peasant/Young Man/Clerk, The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
Henry, Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Ferrando, Così fan tutte, 1990
Daniel, Judith, 1990
Steersman, The Flying Dutchman, 1988
Bailiff, Feuersnot, 1988
Italian Messenger, Friedenstag, 1988
Janet Cree
Soprano
Margret
Janet Cree
Hometown: Pennsylvania
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988
Past Seasons:
Margret, Feuersnot, 1988
Jennifer Lane
Mezzo-soprano
Elsbeth
Jennifer Lane
Hometown: Illinois
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1987, 1988
Past Seasons:
Elsbeth, Feuersnot, 1988
Peasant Girl, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Claudia Mayer
Mezzo-soprano
Wigelis
Claudia Mayer
Hometown: New York
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988
Past Seasons:
Wigelis, Feuersnot, 1988
Keith Heimann
Bass
Gilgenstock
Keith Heimann
Hometown: Texas
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1984, 1988
Past Seasons:
Gilgenstock, Feuersnot, 1988
Soldier 4/ Madman 7, We Come to the River, 1984
Peter Collins
Tenor
Aspeck
Peter Collins
Hometown: New York
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1987, 1988
Past Seasons:
Aspeck, Feuersnot, 1988
Julee McClelland
Soprano
Walpurg
Julee McClelland
Hometown: Texas
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1988
Past Seasons:
Walpurg, Feuersnot, 1988
Anne Christian
Dancer
Anne Christian
Hometown: Huntington, WV
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1986
Past Seasons:
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1988
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Denise Oustalet
Dancer
Denise Oustalet
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Past Seasons:
Ballet Mistress, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
A Flutist, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991
La traviata, 1989
Chérubin, 1989
A Flutist, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The Tempest, 1985
Katherine Warner
Dancer
Katherine Warner
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus,1986
Past Seasons:
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Nancie Woods
Dancer
Nancie Woods
Hometown: London, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Past Seasons:
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Jefferson Baum
Dancer
Jefferson Baum
SFO Debut:
Feuersnot, 1988
Past Seasons:
Friedenstag, 1988
A Masked Dancer, The Black Mask,1988
Die Fledermaus,1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
Leopold, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Patrick Cea
Dancer
Patrick Cea
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1986
Past Seasons:
Hairdresser, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Chérubin, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Timothy Cronin
Dancer
Timothy Cronin
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Past Seasons:
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Michael Lott
Dancer
Michael Lott
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1986
Past Seasons:
La traviata,1989
Chérubin, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Johnson, The Black Mask, 1988
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
John Crosby
Conductor
John Crosby
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Elektra, 2000
Countess Maritza, 1999
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Salome, 1998
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Daphne, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Salome, 1995
Tosca, 1994 (July 1 – 15)
Intermezzo, 1994
La bohème, 1993 (July 2 – 16)
Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (June 28 – July 6)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989 (June 30 – July 12)
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Arabella, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
La traviata, 1980
Elektra, 1980
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1979
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Salome, 1979
Tosca, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Fedora, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La bohème, 1974
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Salome, 1972
Don Carlo, 1971
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1971
La traviata, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Salome, 1969
Madame Butterfly, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Carmen, 1967
La bohème, 1967
Tosca, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Rigoletto, 1964
Daphne, 1964
La bohème, 1964 (August 22 & 28)
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Salome, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 1962
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohème, 1961
The Gondoliers, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Die Fledermaus, 1959
Madame Butterfly, 1959
La bohème, 1958
Wuthering Heights, 1958
Capriccio, 1958
Göran Järvefelt
Director
Göran Järvefelt
Hometown: Bollnäs, Sweden
SFO Debut:
Elektra, 1980
Past Seasons:
Intermezzo, 1994 (Production)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Intermezzo, 1984
Carl Friedrich Oberle
Scenic & Costume Designer
Carl Friedrich Oberle
Hometown: Winnenden, Germany
SFO Debut:
Elektra, 1980
Past Seasons:
Intermezzo, 2003
Daphne, 1996
Intermezzo, 1994
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Feuersnot/Friedenstag, 1988
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Intermezzo, 1984
Craig Miller
Lighting Designer
Craig Miller
Hometown: Hugoton, KS
SFO Debut:
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 1996
La fanciulla del West, 1995
La bohème, 1993
The Magic Flute, 1993
Capriccio, 1993
The Protagonist, 1993
The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Don Giovanni, 1992
The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
La traviata, 1991
The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
La fanciulla de West, 1991
Oedipus, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Così fan tutte, 1990
Orfeo ed Euridice, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
Judith, 1990
La traviata, 1989
La Calisto, 1989
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Così fan tutte, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
The Black Mask, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1988
Ariodante, 1988
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
The Nose, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Magic Flute, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The King Goes Forth to France,1986
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
The English Cat, 1985
The Tempest, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
The Magic Flute, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
We Come to the River, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Don Pasquale, 1983
Arabella, 1983
L’Orione, 1983
The Turn of the Screw, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
The Confidence Man, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
The Rake’s Progress, 1981
News of the Day, 1981
La traviata, 1980
The Magic Flute, 1980
Erwartung, 1980
Von Heute auf Morgan, 1980
Elektra, 1980
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
The Magic Flute, 1979
Lulu, 1979
Salome, 1979
Rodney Griffin
Choreographer
Rodney Griffin
SFO Debut:
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Past Seasons:
Die Fledermaus, 1992
La traviata, 1991
The Marriage of Figaro, 1991
La fanciulla del West, 1991
Oedipus, 1991
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989
Chérubin, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
The Tempest, 1985
Gary Wedow
Chorus Master
Gary Wedow
Hometown: La Porte, IN
SFO Debut:
1983 Season
Past Seasons:
1998 Season
1997 Season
1996 Season
1995 Season
1994 Season
1993 Season
1992 Season
1991 Season
1990 Season
1989 Season
1988 Season
1987 Season
1986 Season
1985 Season
1984 Season
Feuersnot 1988
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