
La bohème 1961
Set in the Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1830s…
…this tragic love story of young Bohemians is one of Puccini’s most beloved and enduring masterpieces.
Synopsis
Act I
It is a cold night in the garret shared by Rodolfo, a poet, Marcello, a painter, Colline, a philosopher, and Schaunard, a musician. Marcello is at work on a painting, and Rodolfo is trying to write. He suggests that he sacrifice his tragedy for fuel, and into the stove goes the manuscript. Colline enters, closely followed by Schaunard, who has managed a windfall – he is laden with fuel and food. Benoit, their landlord, wants his rent. The quartet invites him in, and then feign horror as the old man boasts of his conquests. Mock-indignant, they eject him.
As the others go off to the Cafe Momus, Rodolfo stays behind to try to write. A timid knock interrupts him, and he discovers on the threshold a frail young woman. It is Mimi and she asks a light for her candle, which Rodolfo supplies. But a breeze blows out both candles, and in her confusion, Mimi drops her key. As they search in the darkness, he touches her hand. Tenderly, Rodolfo offers to warm her cold hands with his own. He tells her of his life as a poet, and she describes her work. The others call from the street, and as they go off to the Cafe Momus, Rodolfo confesses that he has fallen in love.
Act II
A happy crowd swirls about the Café Momus. The dashing Musetta who alternately loves and quarrels with Marcello, enters on the arm of the doddering Alcindoro. When she sees Mimi and the four young men, Musetta pretends that her shoe is pinching, and sends Alcindoro off to have it fixed, whereupon she joins Marcello. They order an expensive supper. As Alcindoro enters from the cobbler’s shop, the others run off, leaving him to pay the bills.
Act III
Months later, at the gate of the city, Mimi comes to the inn besides the gate. A cough racks her, and she is very weak. A message brings Marcello out of the tavern. Rodolfo and Musetta are with him, but Mimi refuses to join them. She tells Marcello of Rodolfo’s jealousy, and says they must part. Just then Rodolfo comes out to look for Marcello. Mimi hides but her cough gives her away. Regretfully, the two lovers remember happier times, but agree that they must see each other no more. In the meantime, Marcello has discovered Musetta flirting with one of the men in the tavern. Their violent quarrel breaks through the tender phrases of Mimi and Rodolfo’s farewell.
Act IV
Back in their garret, Marcello and Rodolfo long for their lost loves. Surreptitiously, Rodolfo fingers the little bonnet he bought Mimi. But Schaunard and Colline come in, both in high good humor, and a frolic ensues. Just as the fun is at its height, Musetta runs in with the dreadful news that Mimi is outside, and the poor girl is dying. Rodolfo helps the fast-sinking girl to the cot, and gently supports her.
There is nothing in the place to help Mimi. Musetta gives her earrings to Marcello, asking him to buy medicine for the dying girl, while Colline goes off to pawn his overcoat to buy food. Musetta leaves to find a muff for Mimi’s poor, cold hands. Left alone, the lovers recall incidents from happier days. The others return, and are aware before Rodolfo that Mimi is gone. He turns and reads the news in their faces. With a cry he falls on Mimi’s lifeless body.
Artists

Maria Ferriero
Soprano
Mimi
Maria Ferriero
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1957 (July 3 – 12)
Past Seasons:
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961 (August 5 & 11)
Mimi, La bohėme, 1961
Anna Bolena, Anna Bolena, 1959
Rosina, The Barber of Seville, 1959
Countess, Capriccio, 1958
Mimi, La bohėme, 1958

Doris Yarick
Soprano
Musetta
Doris Yarick
SFO Debut:
Baby Doe, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Past Seasons:
The Cook, Le Rossignol, 1969
Pamina, The Magic Flute, 1969
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1969
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Mimi, La bohème, 1967 (July 5 – 22)
Daughter of Cardillac, Cardillac, 1967
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Mimi, La bohème, 1964
Sophie, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Parasha, Mavra, 1962
St. Margaret, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1962
Musetta, La bohème, 1961
Micaela, Carmen, 1961 (July 26 – August 4)

Charles Anthony
Tenor
Rodolfo
Charles Anthony
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
SFO Debut:
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1959 (June 24 – July 3)
Past Seasons:
Rodolfo, La bohėme, 1961
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1959 (July 8 – 17)
Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville, 1959 (July 22 – 24)

Robert Trehy
Baritone
Marcello
Robert Trehy
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Marcello/ Schaunard, La bohėme, 1958
Past Seasons:
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Marcello, La bohėme, 1961
Horace Tabor, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Luiz, The Gondoliers, 1960 (June 22 – July 1)
Duke of Plaza-Toro, The Gondoliers, 1960 (July 16 – August 19)
Germont, La traviata, 1960 (June 29 – July 8)
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Dr. Falke, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1959 (July 25 – August 12)
Figaro, The Barber of Seville, 1959 (August 1 – 17)
Oscar Hubbard, Regina, 1959
The Count, Capriccio, 1958
Heathcliff, Wuthering Heights, 1958

Therman Bailey
Bass
Colline
Therman Bailey
Hometown: Detroit, MI
SFO Debut:
First Nazarene, Salome, 1962
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1960, 1961
Past Seasons:
Dr. Grenvil, La traviata, 1962
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1962
Messenger, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Colline, La bohėme, 1961
Messenger, Oedipus Rex, 1961
Albert/ Footman, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Messenger, Oedipus Rex, 1960
Keeper of the Madhouse, The Rake’s Progress, 1960

Ron Bottcher
Bass
Schaunard
Ron Bottcher
Hometown: Sandpoint, OH
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1961, 1962
Past Seasons:
Second Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1962
Head Waiter, News of the Day, 1961
Schaunard, La bohėme, 1961
Leopold, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961

Andrew Foldi
Bass-baritone
Benoit
Andrew Foldi
Hometown: Budapest, Hungary
SFO Debut:
Doctor Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 1957
Past Seasons:
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1980
A Struggling Soul, Die Jakobsleiter, 1980
Schigolch, Lulu, 1979
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Schigolch, Lulu, 1974
Baron Ochs, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Director, La bohėme, 1964
Baron Ochs, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Baron Ochs, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Benoit, La bohème, 1961
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Baron d’Houdoux, News of the Day, 1961
Don Magnifico, Cinderella, 1960
Master Spinelleccio, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Tiresias, Oedipus Rex, 1960
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Henry VIII, Anna Bolena, 1959
Osmin, Abduction from the Seraglio, 1959
Doctor Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 1959
Benoit/Alcindoro, La bohème, 1958
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, 1958
Pistol, Falstaff, 1958
Don Magnifico, Cinderella, 1958
Uberto, La serva padrona, 1957
Truffaldin. Ariadne auf Naxos, 1957

Rolf Sander
Tenor
Alcindoro
Rolf Sander
Hometown: Frankfurt, Germany
SFO Debut:
Bardolf, Falstaff, 1958
Past Seasons:
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Alcindoro, La bohėme, 1961
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Shepherd, Oedipus Rex, 1961
Gherardo, Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Shepherd, Oedipus Rex, 1960
Spoletta, Tosca, 1960
Lord Harvey, Anna Bolena, 1959
Fiorello, The Barber of Seville, 1959
Dr. Blind, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Goro, Madame Butterfly, 1959
Monsieur Taupe, Capriccio, 1958

Richard Kramer
Tenor
Pere-Noel
Richard Kramer
Hometown: New York, NY
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1961
Past Seasons:
Hotel Clerk/ Washington Dandy, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Pere-Noel, La bohėme, 1961

Wayne Long
Bass
Custom House Sergeant
Wayne Long
Hometown: Ponca City, OK
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1960, 1961
Past Seasons:
Custom House Sergeant, La bohėme, 1961
Jailor, Tosca, 1960
Betto, Gianni Schicchi, 1960

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 (and Director)
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

Atwood Levensaler
Director
Atwood Levensaler
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
SFO Debut:
La bohème, 1961
Past Seasons:
Così fan tutte, 1962
Brother Dominic, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962

Patton Campbell
Costume Designer
Patton Campbell
Hometown: Omaha, NE
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
The Barber of Seville, 1967
The Rake’s Progress, 1966
The Barber of Seville, 1965
Così fan tutte, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1961
The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Cinderella, 1960
Regina, 1959
The Barber of Seville, 1959
Abduction From the Seraglio, 1959 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Madame Butterfly, 1959 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Anna Bolena, 1959 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Die Fledermaus, 1959 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Capriccio, 1958 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Cinderella, 1958 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Wuthering Heights, 1958 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Falstaff, 1958 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Così fan tutte, 1958 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
La bohème, 1958 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
The Tower, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
La serva padrona, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
The Barber of Seville, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
The Rake’s Progress, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)
Così fan tutte, 1957 (Scenic, Costume & Lighting Designer)

Henry Heymann
Designer
Scenery
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)

Robert L. Benson
Lighting Designer
Robert L. Benson
Hometown: Abilene, TX
SFO Debut:
La bohėme, 1958
Past Seasons:
Carmen, 1961
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohėme, 1961
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
News of the Day, 1961
Oedipus Rex, 1961
Perséphone, 1961
The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Cinderella, 1960
Gianni Schicchi, 1960
The Gondoliers, 1960
La traviata, 1960
Oedipus Rex, 1960
The Rake’s Progress, 1960
The Barber of Seville, 1959
Regina, 1959

John Moriarty
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
Chorus Master, Così fan tutte, 1962
Chorus Master, La traviata, 1962
Chorus Master, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Chorus Master, Le Rossignol, 1962
Chorus Master, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Chorus Master, Perséphone, 1962
Chorus Master, Tosca, 1962
La bohème 1961
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