News & Reviews
Production History
1977–1978 Season
The Merry Widow (Die lustige Witwe)
October 2, 4, 7, 9, 1977: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Franz Lehár
Libretto by Viktor Léon and Leo Stein
Conducted by Theo Alcantara
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Hanna: Beverly Sills
Count Danilo: Alan Titus
Baron Zeta: Andrew Foldi
Valencienne: Glenys Fowles
Camille: Nolan Van Way
Njegus: David Rae Smith
Kromow: Timothy Braden
Bogdanowitsch: William Mallory
Raoul de St. Brioche: Ryan Allen
Viscount Cascada: Vincent Russo
Sylviane / Frou-Frou: Mara Baygulova
Olga / Margot: Jane Westbrook
Pritschitsch: Thomas Simmons
Praskowia / Dodo: Melanie Sonnenberg
Lolo: Patricia Goodwin
Jou-Jou: Cary Shipman
Clo-Clo: Lizanne Maxfield
Set and Costume Designer: Carl Toms
Don Giovanni
October 8, 11, 14, 16, 1977: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Conducted by Theo Alcantara
Directed by Horacio Aragon
Don Giovanni: Robert Hale
Donna Anna: Anne Evans
Donna Elvira: Ashley Putnam
Don Ottavio: Joseph Evans
Leporello: Richard Van Allen
Zerlina: Janice Hall
Masetto: Carlos Chausson
Commendatore (Don Pedro): David Cornell
Set Designer: John Wright Steven
Carmen
October 18, 21, 23, 25, 1977: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Georges Bizet
Libretto by Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
Conducted by Bruno Rigacci
Directed by Sarah Ventura
Carmen: Katherine Pring
Don José: Salvador Novoa
Micaëla: Josella Ligi, Janice Hall (Oct 25)
Escamillo: William Justus, Robert Hale (Oct 21, 23, 25)
Zuniga: Carlos Chausson
Frasquita: Katherine Kennedy
Mercédès: Melanie Sonnenberg
Dancaïre: Thomas Simmons
Remendado: Howard Fried
Morales: Vincent Russo
Set Designer: Terry Gates
Costume Designer: Howard Bay
Falstaff
February 4, 7, 10, 12, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Arrigo Boito
Conducted by Bruno Rigacci
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Sir John Falstaff: Spiro Malas
Ford: John Brácheler
Alice Ford: Nancy Shade
Nanetta: Kathryn Bouleyn
Meg Page: Melanie Sonnenberg
Mistress Quickly: Muriel Costa-Greenspan
Fenton: David Hall
Doctor Caius: Joaquin Romaguera
Bardolfo: Melvin Lowery
Pistola: David Cornell
Designer: Elemer Nagy
Madama Butterfly
February 11, 14, 17, 19, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
March 15, 1978: Palm Springs
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Conducted by Bruno Rigacci, Joseph De Rugeriis (Mar 15)
Directed by Sarah Ventura
Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly: Atsuko Azuma
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton: Rico Serbo
Suzuki: Hilda Harris
Sharpless: John Brácheler
Goro: Howard Fried
The Bonze: Michael Gallup
Imperial Commissioner: John Del Carlo, Vincent Russo (Mar 15)
Official Registrar: Robert Roseberry
Prince Yamadori: Gary Fisher
Kate Pinkerton: Melanie Sonnenberg
Designer: John Scheffler
The Love for Three Oranges (L’amour des trois oranges)
West Coast Premiere
February 25, 28, March 3, 5, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music and Libretto by Sergei Prokofiev
Conducted by Calvin Simmons
Directed by Tito Capobianco
King of Clubs: Harold Enns
Prince: Joseph Evans
Princess Clarissa: Muriel Costa-Greenspan
Leandro: John Darrenkamp
Truffaldino: David Hall
Pantalone: John Del Carlo
Tchélio: William Dansby
Fata Morgana: Diane Curry
Linetta: Mara Baygulova
Nicoletta: Carolyne McDaniel
Ninetta: Kathryn Bouleyn
Smeraldina: Melanie Sonnenberg
Farfarello: Vincent Russo
Master of Ceremonies: Leslie Harrington
Herald: William Dansby
Cook: David Cornell
Set and Costume Designer: Mario Vanarelli
Aida
Verdi Festival
August 4, 6, 9, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni
Conducted by Antonio Tauriello
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Aida: Martina Arroyo
Radamès: Carlo Bini
Amneris: Carol Wyatt
Amonasro: Norman Mittelmann
Ramfis: Robert Hale
King of Egypt: Phillip Booth
Messenger: Gary Fisher
High Priestess: Aprile Millo
Set Designer: Mario Cristini
Concert: Verdi Requiem
Verdi Festival
August 12, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Conducted by Antonio Tauriello
Soloists: Martina Arroyo, Carol Wyatt, Carlo Bini, Robert Hale
San Diego Symphonic Chorale
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