News & Reviews
Production History
1978–1979 Season
Hamlet
West Coast Premiere
October 7, 9, 13, 15, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Ambroise Thomas
Libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Conducted by Bruno Rigacci
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Hamlet: Sherrill Milnes
Ophelia: Ashley Putnam
Gertrude: Isabel Veale
Claudius: Robert Hale
Laertes: Joseph Evans
Marcellus / Gravedigger: Joaquin Romaguera
Horatio: David Dunlap
Ghost of Hamlet’s father: Carlos Chausson
Polonius: James Courtney
Gravedigger: Vincent Russo
Set Designer: Carl Toms
Rigoletto
October 20, 22, 26, 28, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Conducted by Bruno Rigacci
Directed by Ronald Adler
Rigoletto: Louis Quilico
Gilda: Janice Hall
Duke of Mantua: Enrico di Giuseppe
Sparafucile: Carlos Chausson
Maddalena: Adrienne Leonetti
Count Monterone: James Courtney
Count Ceprano: David Dunlap
Borsa: Gary Fisher
Marullo: Vincent Russo
Giovanna: Joyce Jones
Countess Ceprano: Nancy Jones
Page: Pamela Hicks
Herald: Gary Nichols
Set Designer: John Naccarato
Costume Designer: Carrie Robbins
Così fan tutte
October 27, 29, 31, November 4, 1978: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte
Conducted by Theo Alcantara
Directed by Jan Bouws
Fiordiligi: Sung-Sook Lee
Dorabella: Susanne Marsee
Ferrando: Joseph Evans
Guglielmo: Lenus Carlson
Don Alfonso: Andrew Foldi
Despina: Katherine Hindrelet-Brydon
Set Designer: John Naccarato
Costume Designers: John Naccarato and Edguard Johnson
Manon Lescaut
May 12, 15, 18, 20, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica, Marco Praga, and Domenico Oliva
Conducted by John Mauceri
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Manon Lescaut: lona Simon
Lescaut: Cary Archer Smith
Chevalier des Grieux: Carlo Bini
Geronte di Ravoir: Carlos Chausson
Edmondo: Gary Fisher
Innkeeper: Vincent Russo
Singer: Marnie Clark
Dance Master / Lamplighter: Joseph Frank
Sergeant: David Dunlap
Captain: Gary Nichols
Set Designer: Marsha Louis Eck
Cavalleria rusticana
May 19, 22, 25, 27, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Double bill with Pagliacci
Music by Pietro Mascagni
Libretto by Giovanni Targioni-Tozzetti and Guido Menasci
Conducted by Joseph De Rugeriis
Directed by Fabrizio Melano
Santuzza: Marvellee Cariaga
Turiddu: Harry Theyard
Mamma Lucia: Jane Westbrook
Alfio: William Justus
Lola: Melanie Sonnenberg
Set Designer: Allen Charles Klein
Pagliacci
May 19, 22, 25, 27, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Double bill with Cavaleria rusticana
Music and Libretto by Ruggiero Leoncavallo
Conducted by Joseph De Rugeriis
Directed by Fabrizio Melano
Canio: Harry Theyard
Nedda: Diana Soviero
Tonio: William Justus
Beppe: David Hall
Silvio: John Del Carlo
Villagers: Robert Roseberry, Gerald Whitney
Set Designer: Allen Charles Klein
La Loca
World Premiere
June 3, 5, 8, 10, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music and Libretto by Gian Carlo Menotti
Conducted by Calvin Simmons
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Juana: Beverly Sills
Felipe / Fernando / Carlos: John Brácheler
Bishop Ximenes de Cisneros: Robert Hale
Doña Manuela: Susanne Marsee
Nurse: Jane Westbrook
Miguel de Ferrera: Joseph Evans
Chaplain: Vincent Russo
Marques de Denia: Carlos Chausson
Ladies in Waiting: Marcia Cope, Martha Jane Howe
Set and Costume Designer: Mario Vanarelli
I Lombardi
West Coast Premiere
Verdi Festival
June 22, 24, 30, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Temistocle Solera
Conducted by Maurizio Arena
Directed by Tito Capobianco
Arvino: Rico Serbo
Viclinda: Lynne Martindale-Schafer
Pagano: Paul Plishka
Oronte: Carlo Bergonzi
Acciano: J. Patrick Raftery
Sofia: Leslie Richards
Pirro: Carlos Chausson
Prior of Milan: Michael Magiera
Set Designer: Mario Vanarelli
La traviata
Verdi Festival
June 29, July 1, 7, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Music by Giuseppe Verdi
Libretto by Francesco Maria Piave
Conducted by Hans Vonk
Directed by Charles Nelson Reilly
Violetta Valéry: Diana Soviero
Alfredo Germont: Vittorio Terranova
Giorgio Germont: John Brácheler
Flora Bervoix: Jane Westbrook
Annina: Martha Jane Howe
Gastone: Michael Magiera
Baron Douphol: J. Patrick Raftery
Marchese d’Obigny: Vincent Russo
Doctor Grenvil: David Dunlap
Giuseppe: James Flynn
Flora’s Servant: Gary Nichols
Messenger: Jeffrey L. Shipman
Set and Costume Director: Carl Toms
Gala Verdi Concert
Verdi Festival
June 28, 1979: San Diego Civic Theatre
Conductors: John Balme and Michael Parker
Soloists: Christina Deutekom, Leslie Richards, Carlo Bergonzi, Rico Serbo, John Brácheler, Paul Plishka, J. Patrick Raftery
Saddleback Concert Chorale
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