The Devils of Loudun 1969
A priest accused of putting a spell on nuns…
…has a political background. An exorcism and false testimonies leads to an atmosphere of distrust and hatred, and finally torture and a burning at the stake.
Synopsis
Act I
The Prioress of the Ursuline Convent at Loudun, Sister Jeanne, has a nocturnal vision in which Urbain Grandier, the Vicar of St. Peter’s Church, dreadfully disfigured by torture, is dragged in a hairshirt to a place of execution where he is to be burned alive. Superstition, hysteria and hopeless love for Grandier have led several of the Sisters of the convent, including Jeanne, to the belief that they are possessed by Devils. This evil possession is the primary cause which will lead to Grandier’s downfall. Other factors, however, are subsequently revealed, including his relationships with the widow, Ninon, and with the young Phillipe, who is expecting his child. Grandier further assures his doom by siding against the King and Cardinal Richelieu’s decree to demolish the city’s fortifications, which have given protection to the Protestants.
Act II
The exorcism of the Nuns begins. Spiritual and secular dignitaries attempt in vain to expel the Devil from the pious Sisters despite the objections of the Archbishop and the city fathers. Better results are expected from the rites when they are continued in public as a great spectacle for the populace. Since Grandier has supported the Mayor of Loudun in his opposition to the Paris-decreed destruction of the city’s defenses, and since his name continues to be associated with the origin of the Nuns’ bewitching, he is arrested as he enters his Church.
Act III
Grandier is found guilty of having been the source of the possession, because of his bond with the Devil, blasphemy, and his unchaste life. He is sentenced to death at the stake, but is first to be tortured into admitting his own guilt. It is finally revealed to Jeanne, during her prayers, that it is her unrequited love for Grandier which has been the real cause of her possession.
Artists
John Reardon
Baritone
Urbain Grandier
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
Mandryka, Arabella, 1965
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Platon Kusmich Kovalioff, The Nose, 1965
Escamillo, Carmen, 1964
Count Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Herr von Faninal, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, 1963
Sharpless, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Scarpia, Tosca, 1962
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Scarpia, Tosca, 1960
Joy Davidson
Mezzo-soprano
Sister Jeanne of the Angels
Joy Davidson
Hometown: Fort Collins, CO
SFO Debut:
Sister Jeanne of the Angels, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Past Seasons:
Princess Eboli, Don Carlo, 1971 (August 17 – 25)
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Giovanna, Anna Bolena, 1970
Richard Cross
Bass-baritone
Father Barré
Richard Cross
Hometown: Faribault, MN
SFO Debut:
Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni, 1966
Past Seasons:
Father Barré, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Escamillo, Carmen, 1967 (August 9 – 24)
John Stewart
Tenor
De Laubardemont
John Stewart
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
SFO Debut:
Cavalier, Cardillac, 1967
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Sebastian, The Tempest, 1985
Baron Lummer, Intermezzo, 1984
Matteo, Violanta, 1984
Guido Bardi, A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Apollo, L’Orione, 1983
Count Elemer, Arabella, 1983
Narraboth, Salome, 1978
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1972 (August 2 – 24)
Narraboth, Salome, 1972
Ferrando, Così fan tutte, 1969
Narraboth, Salome, 1969
De Laubardemont, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (August 15 – 31)
Gaston, La traviata, 1968
A Landlord, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
One of the Called, Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Narraboth, Salome, 1967
Yarizhkin, The Nose, 1965
Servant, Lulu, 1964
William Workman
Baritone
Prince Henri de Condé
William Workman
Hometown: Valdosta, GA
SFO Debut:
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 1968 (July 20 – August 3)
Past Seasons:
Barber, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Schaunard, La bohème, 1981
Eduard, News of the Day, 1981
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 1969 (July 19 – 25)
Tony, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Cappadocian, Salome, 1969
Prince Henri de Condé, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Chester Watson
Bass-baritone
Father Rangier
Chester Watson
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1969
Past Seasons:
Father Rangier, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Rolland Meinholtz
Actor
Jean D'Armagnac
Rolland Meinholtz
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
SFO Debut:
Jean D’Armagnac, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Ragnar Ulfung
Tenor
Adam
Ragnar Ulfung
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
SFO Debut:
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1966
Past Seasons:
Herod, Salome, 2006
Captain, Wozzeck, 2001
Aegisth, Elektra, 2000
Bill-Poster/Dean of Law, A Dream Play, 1998
Herod, Salome, 1995
Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville, 1994
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1993
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Jedediah Potter, The Black Mask, 1988
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1986
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Director/ Benoit, La bohème, 1981
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1980
Aegisth, Elektra, 1980
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1978
Fadinard, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Herod, Salome, 1976
Director, La bohème, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (July 6 – August 8)
Director, Lulu, 1974
Director, La bohème, 1973
Vicomte Cascada, The Merry Widow, 1973
La Théière, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Herod, Salome, 1972
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herod, Salome, 1969
Adam, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1968
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Officer, Cardillac, 1967
Herod, Salome, 1967
Tom Rakewell, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Ray Hickman
Bass
Mannoury
Ray Hickman
Hometown: Massachusetts
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Angelotti, Tosca, 1969
Second Armored Man, The Magic Flute, 1969
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1969
Second Soldier, Salome, 1969
Mannoury, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Commissioner, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (August 15 – 31)
Marquis d’Obigny, La traviata, 1968
Lackey, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Jean Kraft
Mezzo-soprano
Ninon
Jean Kraft
Hometown: Menasha, WI
SFO Debut:
Adelaide von Waldner, Arabella, 1965
Past Seasons:
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Housekeeper, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1986
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Juno, The Tempest, 1985
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1984
Notary’s Wife, Intermezzo, 1984
May/Madwoman 4, We Come to the River, 1984
Berta, The Barber of Seville, 1981
Miss Pick, News of the Day, 1981
Madame Larina, Eugene Onegin, 1980
Herodias, Salome, 1979
Mistress Meg Page, Falstaff, 1977
Geneviève, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (July 10 – 23; August 21 -24)
Mistress Meg Page, Falstaff, 1975
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1974
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1974
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Kate Julian, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Herodias, Salome, 1972
Miss Newkirk, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Flora, La traviata, 1970
Death, Le Rossignol, 1970
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Miss Newkirk, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Death, Le Rossignol, 1969
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herodias, Salome, 1969
Ninon, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Annina, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Gianetta, The Elixir of Love, 1968
Flora, La traviata, 1968
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1968
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1966
Prioress, Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1966
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Margret, Wozzeck, 1966
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Merja Sargon
Soprano
Phillipe Trincant
Merja Sargon
SFO Debut:
Papagena, The Magic Flute, 1969
Past Seasons:
Phillipe Trincant, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Carol Wilcox
Soprano
Sister Gabrielle
Carol Wilcox
Hometown: New Concord, OH
SFO Debut:
The Friend, Von Heute auf Morgan, 1980
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1969, 1970
Past Seasons:
Barbarina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Vocal Ensemble, Opera, 1970
Sister Gabrielle, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
D'Anna Fortunato
Mezzo-soprano
Sister Claire
D'Anna Fortunato
Hometown: South Carolina
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Sister Claire, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Ann Swedish
Mezzo-soprano
Sister Louise
Ann Swedish
Hometown: Wisconsin
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1969, 1970
Past Seasons:
Sister Louise, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
James Morris
Bass-baritone
Father Ambrose
James Morris
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
SFO Debut:
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville, 1981 (July 4 – August 13)
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1969
Past Seasons:
Doctor, Vanessa, 2016
Dutchman, The Flying Dutchman, 1988
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Jailor, Tosca, 1969
First Soldier, Salome, 1969
The Bonze, Le Rossignol, 1969
Father Ambrose, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Joseph McClain
Tenor
Father Mignon
Joseph McClain
Hometown: Arkansas
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1969
Past Seasons:
Spoletta, Tosca, 1969 (August 21 – 23)
First Jew, Salome, 1969
Father Mignon, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Richard Best
Bass-baritone
Bontemps
Richard Best
Hometown: Chicago, IL
SFO Debut:
Dr. Grenvil, La Traviata, 1965
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1959, 1960, 1961
Past Seasons:
Second Armored Man, The Magic Flute, 1984
Aide, We Come to the River, 1984
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Jarno, Mignon, 1982
Old Plain Talk, The Confidence Man, 1982
General Boum, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1971
Baron Grog, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Friar, Don Carlo, 1971
Sacristan, Tosca, 1969
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1969
Fifth Jew, Salome, 1969
Dr. Turtlespit, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Bontemps, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Dr. Grenvil, La Traviata, 1968
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1968
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1968
Notary, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Vendor/Coachman/General, The Nose, 1965
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Marschallin’s Attorney/Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Jacob, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Museum Guide, News of the Day, 1961
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Guccio, Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Cal, Regina, 1959
Paul Kinslow
Actor
Guillaume de Cerisay
Paul Kinslow
Hometown: Santa Fe , NM
SFO Debut:
Guillaume de Cerisay, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Conductor
Stanislaw Skrowaczewski
Hometown: Lviv, Ukraine
SFO Debut:
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Konrad Swinarski
Director
Konrad Swinarski
Hometown: Warsaw, Poland
SFO Debut:
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Designer
Rouben Ter-Arutunian
Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1968 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
Past Seasons:
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
Carmen, 1975 (Scenic Designer)
Madame Butterfly, 1972 (Costume Designer)
The Devils of Loudun, 1969 (Scenic and Costume Designer)
The Bassarids, 1968 (Scenic Designer)
Perséphone, 1968 (Scenic and Costume 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
Hugh Johnson
Chorus Master
Hugh Johnson
SFO Debut:
La traviata, 1970
Past Seasons:
Le Rossignol, 1970
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970 (Conductor)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Opera, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Le Rossignol, 1969
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
The Devils of Loudun 1969
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