The Impresario & Le Rossignol 2014
The Healing Power of Music…
Divas vie for a plum role while a producer struggles to cope with their rivalry and the stresses of work in the music business. That’s the scenario of Mozart’s brief, witty opera The Impresario, but it could also be a news story in The Hollywood Reporter. In these ingeniously framed productions, the stars’ rivalry centers on casting Stravinsky’s exquisite one-act opera Le Rossignol, which forms the second half of a perfectly balanced double-bill.
The Impresario takes us to 1920s Paris for the high stress auditions. Then, with the same cast, Le Rossignol enfolds us in Hans Christian Andersen’s poetic fable in which an emperor learns the lesson of humility. This production of Le Rossignol honors the centennial of the opera’s premiere in Paris, in 1914.
Synopsis
The Impresario
The one-act opera The Impresario shares the trials and tribulations an impresario encounters in leading a group of traveling players. Otto van der Puff suggests to the impresario that he should sign the actors at low wages, and he recommends bribing the critics and disregarding artistic merit. The banker takes care of the finances for the impresario in return to have his mistress play a role in the production.
As the impresario begins to hold auditions, it is clear that Madame Vladimirescu and Madame Vocedoro-Gambalunghi are divas trying to outdo each other for the same role. The two women continue their rivalry and the competition heats up. When the impresario cannot choose and threatens to cancel the production, the singers decide that only through peaceful collaboration can art thrive.
Synopsis
Le Rossignol
Set in ancient China. The Fisherman acts as narrator for the story’s events.
Act I
Just before dawn, a Fisherman awaits the arrival of the singing Nightingale. The Cook arrives bringing court officials and says how the bird’s beautiful song makes her cry. The Chamberlain, unable to hear, tells her he will appoint her as private cook to the Emperor if she can find the bird. The Nightingale appears and the Cook and Chamberlain invite it to sing for the Emperor. The Nightingale accepts the invitation but reminds them that her sweetest song is in the forest.
Act II
Courtiers prepare the palace for the Nightingale’s song with lanterns. They ask the Cook about the bird and she responds that though the Nightingale appears plain, tears of happiness will flow from listeners’ eyes. The Emperor’s procession enters and he commands the bird to sing. The Emperor is moved by the beautiful singing and offers the bird a reward of a golden slipper. Three Japanese Envoys enter the palace and offer the Emperor a mechanical nightingale. The mechanical bird sings and the Nightingale flies away. The Emperor banishes it from the empire. He names the mechanical bird “first singer” in the court.
Act III
As the Emperor is dying and Death is near his side, the ghosts of his past deeds visit him. He calls for his court musicians, but instead the Nightingale appears – disregarding the banishment. Death hears the Nightingale sing and asks it to continue. The Nightingale agrees, but only if Death returns the crown, sword and standard to the Emperor. Death agrees and the Emperor offers the Nightingale the position of “first singer.” The Nightingale declines, stating that the Emperor’s tears are reward enough, and promises to sing each night from dusk until dawn.
Artists
Erin Morley
Soprano
Adellina Vocedoro-Gambulunghi (Impresario)/Nightingale (Rossignol)
Erin Morley
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
SFO Debut:
Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute, 2010 (July 3 – August 10)
Past Seasons:
Tytania, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021
Adelina Vocedoro-Gambalunghi, The Impresario, 2014
The Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 2014
Roxana, King Roger, 2012
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Brenda Rae
Soprano
Vlada Vladimirescu (Impresario)/Cook (Rossignol)
Brenda Rae
Hometown: Appleton, WI
SFO Debut:
Violetta Valéry, La traviata, 2013
Past Seasons:
Cunegonde, Candide, 2018
Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor, 2017
Norina, Don Pasquale, 2014 (July 29 – August 22)
Vlada Vladimirescu, The Impresario, 2014
Cook, Le Rossignol, 2014
Anthony Michaels-Moore
Baritone
Yuri Yussupovich (Impresario)/Emperor of China (Rossignol)
Anthony Michaels-Moore
Hometown: Grays, England
SFO Debut:
Simon Boccanegra, Simon Boccanegra, 2004 (July 2 – 14)
Past Seasons:
Monroe/Pangle, Cold Mountain, 2015
Yuri Yussupovich, The Impresario, 2014
Emperor, Le Rossignol, 2014
Giorgio Germont, La traviata, 2009 (August 22- 29)
Robert Crosbie, The Letter, 2009
Falstaff, Falstaff, 2008 (July 29 – August 23)
Bruce Sledge
Tenor
Vladimir Vladimirescu (Impresario)/Fisherman (Rossignol)
Bruce Sledge
Hometown: Orange, CA
SFO Debut:
Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville, 2005
Past Seasons:
Tenor/Bacchus, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 2015
Vladimir Vladimirescu, The Impresario, 2014
Fisherman, Le Rossignol, 2014
Paolo Erisso, Maometto II, 2012
Meredith Arwady
Contralto
Chlotichilda Krone (Impresario)/Death (Rossignol)
Meredith Arwady
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
SFO Debut:
Gaea, Daphne, 2007
Past Seasons:
Pasqualita, Doctor Atomic, 2018
Amelfa, The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Chlotichilda Krone, The Impresario, 2014
Death, Le Rossignol, 2014
Griselda, Griselda, 2011
Kevin Burdette
Bass
Otto van der Puff (Impresario)/Chamberlain (Rossignol)
Kevin Burdette
Hometown: Knoxville, TN
SFO Debut:
Mr. Scattergood, The Last Savage, 2011
Past Seasons:
Dr. Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 2022
Manuel Toulon/Judge, M. Butterfly, 2022
Correspondence, Lord of Cries, 2021
Quince, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, 2021
Voltaire/Pangloss/Cacambo/Martin, Candide, 2018
Major-domo, Ariadne auf Naxos, 2018
Frosch, Die Fledermaus, 2017
General Polkan, The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Sulpice Pingot, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Stobrod Thewes/A Blind Man, Cold Mountain, 2015
Otto van der Puff, The Impresario, 2014
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 2014
General Boum, The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
Justice Wills/Colonel Isaacson, Oscar, 2013
David Govertsen
Bass-baritone
Henrich Eiler (Impresario)/Bonze (Rossignol)
David Govertsen
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
SFO Debut:
Henrich Eiler, The Impresario, 2014
Bonze, Le Rossignol, 2014
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2009, 2010
Past Seasons:
Dr. Franke, Die Fledermaus, 2017
La Roche, Capriccio, 2016
Second Armed Man, The Magic Flute, 2010
Flora’s servant, La traviata, 2009
Jack Swanson
Tenor
Stage Manager (Impresario)/Japanese Envoy (Rossignol)
Jack Swanson
Hometown: Stillwater, MN
SFO Debut:
Lindoro, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2018
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2014, 2015
Past Seasons:
Count Almaviva, The Barber of Seville, 2022
A Peasant, Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Stage Hand, The Impresario, 2014
Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 2014
David Margulis
Tenor
Stage Manager (Impresario)/Japanese Envoy (Rossignol)
David Margulis
Hometown: Plantation, FL
Past Seasons:
Stage Hand, The Impresario, 2014
Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 2014
Carmen, 2014
Don Pasquale, 2014
Fidelio, 2014
Tosca, 2012
Pearl Fishers, 2012
Maometto II, 2012
King Roger, 2012
Arabella, 2012
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2012, 2014
Shea Owens
Baritone
Pianist (Impresario)/Japanese Envoy (Rossignol)
Shea Owens
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
Past Seasons:
Pianist, The Impresario, 2014
Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 2014
Carmen, 2014
Fidelio, 2014
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2014
Kenneth Montgomery
Conductor
Kenneth Montgomery
Hometown: Belfast, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Mignon, 1982
Past Seasons:
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Alceste, 2009
The Marriage of Figaro, 2008
Daphne, 2007
Cendrillon, 2006
Anniversary Arias Gala Concert, 2006
The Barber of Seville, 2005
Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
La belle Hélène, 2003
Intermezzo, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Mitridate, 2001
The Marriage of Figaro, 2000
Idomoneo, 1999
Così fan tutte, 1997
The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1994
Xerxes, 1993
L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Il matrimonio segreto, 1984
Michael Gieleta
Director
Michael Gieleta
James Macnamara
Scenic Designer
James Macnamara
Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa
SFO Debut:
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Fabio Toblini
Costume Designer
Fabio Toblini
Hometown: Verona, Italy
SFO Debut:
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Christopher Akerlind
Lighting Designer
Christopher Akerlind
Hometown: Hartford, CT
2024 Season:
Don Giovanni
SFO Debut:
The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Past Seasons:
The Barber of Seville, 2022
M. Butterfly, 2022
Lucia di Lammermoor, 2017
Vanessa, 2016
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014
Andrzej Goulding
Projection Designer
Andrzej Goulding
Seán Curran
Choreographer
Seán Curran
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Daphne, 2007
Past Seasons:
M. Butterfly, 2022
Die Fledermaus, 2017
Vanessa, 2016
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Dr. Sun Yat-sen, 2014
Oscar, 2013
The Last Savage, 2011
The Tales of Hoffmann, 2010
Susanne Sheston
Chorus Master
Susanne Sheston
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
2024 Season
SFO Debut:
2008 Season
Past Seasons:
2023 Season
2022 Season
2021 Season
2019 Season
2018 Season
2017 Season
2016 Season
2015 Season
2014 Season
2013 Season
2012 Season
2011 Season
2010 Season
2009 Season
The Impresario & Le Rossignol 2014
- Tours
- Transportation
- Dining
- Talk