
The Marriage of Figaro 1960
A lecherous count…
…and his plotting servants, with marriage plans of their own, connive in Mozart’s most popular opera buffa.
Synopsis
Act I
Act I opens with Figaro and Susanna examining the room which they will occupy after their marriage. Figaro notes that its convenient location, adjoining the boudoir of the Countess, should make it possible for Susanna to be readily available to the Countess when needed. Susanna, on the other hand, notes that it is also an easy matter for the Count to get to her if Figaro is away. Figaro resolves to stop the Count’s pursuit. As he leaves, Dr. Bartolo enters, explaining to Marcellina how he will use his legal knowledge to trap Figaro into marrying the former duenna.
Cherubino, recently dismissed by the Count for having been discovered in an escapade with Barbarina, begs Susanna to plead his case before the Countess. When voices are heard outside the door. Susanna conceals the page and admits the Count whose advances are, in turn, interrupted by the entrance of Don Basilio. The Count also is forced to hide, but reveals himself when he hears of gossip concerning the Countess and Cherubino. Upon discovering that the page has been concealed in the room and has therefore overheard the entire conversation, the Count decides to rid himself of Cherubino by giving him a commission in his regiment.
Act II
Act II introduces the Countess who regrets the loss of her husband’s love. Figaro and Susanna explain their plan to embarrass the Count into marital fidelity: The Count will be given an assignation with Susanna, but her place will be taken by Cherubino in disguise: then the Count will be sent an anonymous letter telling him that the Countess, in revenge, has made a rendezvous with an unknown man. Just as Cherubino is dressed, the Count knocks at the door. Cherubino hides in a closet. Susanna, who had gone to her room for a moment, returns to overhear the argument between Count and Countess. When the Count leaves to get tools to break down the door. Susanna exchanges places with Cherubino who escapes through a window. The Count is mystified to find Susanna in the room and interrogates Figaro who denies all knowledge. Suddenly the gardener bursts in, protesting that his flower beds have been ruined by a man jumping from the window. Figaro attempts to take the blame but is interrupted by the entrance of Marcellina, accompanied by Bartolo and Basilio, who has come to lodge a formal complaint against Figaro, and the act ends in pandemonium.
Act III
Act III begins with Susanna agreeing to meet the Count that night. Leaving, she meets Figaro and assures him that he will win his case against Marcellina. Overhearing their conversation, the Count is furious. At the hearing, he is quick to render judgment in Marcellina’s favor until it is discovered that Figaro is the natural son of Marcellina and Dr. Bartolo.
The Countess muses on the past and permits herself to hope that her own fidelity will result in a return of the Count’s affection. She and Susanna write a letter to the Count, naming a meeting place for the evening’s rendezvous. A group of village girls comes to present bouquets to the Countess. The Count, warned by Antonio of the presence of Cherubino, discovers the disguised page in the group. Barbarina saves the situation by asking the Count to give her Cherubino as her husband. Susanna and Figaro are finally wed, and during the ceremony, Susanna slips the Count the letter which she and the Countess have concocted.
Act IV
Act IV unties all the knots. Unknown to Figaro, the Countess and Susanna have exchanged clothing, and he is enraged to see Cherubino and the Count in tête-à-tête with “his wife” (in reality the Countess). Figaro suddenly sees through the disguise and makes love to Susanna as if she were the Countess. Susanna forgives the joke and the two join forces against the Count. Pleading with the angry Count is in vain until the Countess herself is heard. Realizing that he has been duped, the Count begs forgiveness of his wife and the opera ends amid general rejoicing.
Artists

Donald Gramm
Bass-baritone
Figaro
Donald Gramm
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
SFO Debut:
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Past Seasons:
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (July 16 – 23, August 18-24)
Spencer Coyle, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973 (July 21 – August 11)
Leporello, Don Giovanni, 1972
General Boum, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Golaud, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971 (July 30 – August 7)
General Boum, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Philip II, Don Carlo, 1971
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Enrico, Anna Bolena, 1970
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 1969 (August 16 – 22)
Gabriel, Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Papageno, The Magic Flute, 1968 (July 5 – 10)
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
The Doctor, Wozzeck, 1966
Nick Shadow, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Leporello, Don Giovanni, 1966
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Tartaglia, The Stag King, 1965
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Dr. Schon, Lulu, 1964
Dr. Spinelloccio, Gianni Schicci, 1964
Peneios, Daphne, 1964
Dr. Schon, Lulu, 1963
Emperor of China, Le Rossignol, 1963
Leporello, Don Giovanni, 1963
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, 1962
Emperor of China, Le Rossignol, 1962
Tiresias, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Second Bass, Renard, 1962
Tiresias, Oedipus Rex, 1961
Figaro, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961

Mildred Allen
Soprano
Susanna
Mildred Allen
Hometown: Mississippi
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1957 (August 22 – 28)
Past Seasons:
Mimi, La bohème, 1967 (July 29 – August 26)
Micaela, Carmen, 1967
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Costanza, The Stag King, 1965
Zerlina, Don Giovanni, 1963
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1963
St. Margaret, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
La Chauve-Souris/La Princesse, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1959
Adele, Die Fledermaus, 1959 (June 24 – July 3)
Alexandra Giddens, Regina, 1959
Mimi, La bohème, 1958
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1958
Nanetta, Falstaff, 1958
Isabella, Wuthering Heights, 1958

Helen Vanni
Mezzo-soprano
Cherubino
Helen Vanni
Hometown: Davenport, IA
SFO Debut:
Tessa, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Countess Olga Sukarev, Fedora, 1977
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (August 24)
Hero, L’Egisto, 1976
Constance Fletcher, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Mistress Alice Ford, Falstaff, 1975
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Mrs. Coyle, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Smeton, Anna Bolena, 1970
Dorabella, Così fan tutte, 1969
Marschallin, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (July 2 – 12)
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Rosina, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Cinderella, Cinderella, 1966
Clairon, Capriccio, 1966
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Rosina, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1963 (July 6 – 10)
Octavian, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Jocasta, Oedipus Rex, 1962
St. Catherine, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Dorabella, Così fan tutte, 1962
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Octavian, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Cinderella, Cinderella, 1960

Maria di Gerlando
Soprano
Countess Almaviva
Maria di Gerlando
Hometown: Luzerne County, PA
SFO Debut:
Birdie, Regina, 1959
Past Seasons:
Tosca, Tosca, 1966 (August 13 – 25)
Italian Soprano, Capriccio, 1966
Violetta, La traviata, 1962
Cook, Le Rossignol, 1962
Violetta, La traviata, 1960
Nella, Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960

Robert Trehy
Baritone
Count Almaviva
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

Elaine Bonazzi
Mezzo-soprano
Marcellina
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
Mrs. Pick, News of the Day, 1961
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 (July 29 – 31)
Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus, 1959 (August 7 – 18)
Smeaton, Anna Bolena, 1959
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1958

Andrew Foldi
Bass-baritone
Bartolo
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
Basilio
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

Edwin Quistorff
Tenor
Don Curzio
Edwin Quistorff
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1959, 1960
Past Seasons:
Don Curzio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960

Richard Best
Bass-baritone
Antonio
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

Elizabeth Swanson
Soprano
Barbarina
Elizabeth Swanson
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1959, 1960
Past Seasons:
Barbarina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960

Edith Jerell
Dancer
Premiere Danseuse
Edith Jerell
SFO Debut:
Premiere Danseuse, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Premiere Danseuse, La traviata, 1960
Premiere Danseuse, Cinderella, 1960
Premiere Danseuse, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960

Thomas Andrew
Director/ Choreographer
Premier Danseur
Thomas Andrew
SFO Debut:
Choreographer/ Premier Danseur, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Choreographer, Renard, 1962
Director/ Mercury, Perséphone, 1962
Choreographer, News of the Day, 1961
Choreographer, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Choreographer, Perséphone, 1961
Choreographer, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Premier Danseur, Carmen, 1961
Choreographer/ Premier Danseur, La traviata, 1960
Choreographer, Cinderella, 1960
Choreographer/ Premier Danseur, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960

Robert Baustian
Conductor
Robert Baustian
Hometown: Storm Lake, IA
SFO Debut:
The Barber of Seville, 1957
Past Seasons:
Die Jakobsleiter, 1980
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975 (July 30)
La vida breve, 1975
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
Le Rossignol, 1973
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Perséphone, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
The Barber of Seville, 1967
Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1966
Don Giovanni, 1966
Cinderella, 1966
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Giovanni, 1963
Mavra, 1962
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
La traviata, 1962
Così fan tutte, 1962
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Cinderella, 1960
The Barber of Seville, 1959
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1959
Cinderella, 1958
Falstaff, 1958
Così fan tutte, 1958
The Tower, 1957

Hans Busch
Director
Hans Busch
Hometown: Aachen, Germany
SFO Debut:
Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Past Seasons:
Oedipus Rex, 1961
Perséphone, 1961
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Oedipus Rex, 1960

Henry Heymann
Designer
Scenery and 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)

Stephen H. Arnold
Lighting Designer
Stephen H. Arnold
SFO Debut:
Tosca, 1960
Past Seasons:
The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
The Marriage of Figaro 1960
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