1977-78 Season

The Merry Widow – Franz Lehár

October 2, 4, 7, 9(m), 1977
Beverly Sills – Hanna | Glenys Fowles – Valencienne | Mara Baygulova – Sylviane/Frou-Frou | Jane Westbrook – Olga/Margot | Melanie Sonnenberg – Praskowia/Dodo | Patricia Goodwin – Lolo | Cary Shipman – Jou-Jou | Lizanne Maxfield – Clo-Clo | Alan Titus – Danilo | Nolan Van Way – Camille | Andrew Foldi – Baron Zeta | Vincent Russo – Cascada | Ryan Allen – St. Brioche | William Mallory – Bogdanowitsch | Timothy Braden – Kromow | Thomas Simmons – Pritschitsch | David Rae Smith – Njegus) | Theo Alcantara – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Carl Toms – sets/costumes

Don Giovanni – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

October 8, 11, 14, 16(m), 1977
Anne Evans – Anna | Ashley Putnam – Elvira | Janice Hall – Zerlina | Joseph Evans – Ottavio | Robert Hale – Giovanni | Carlos Chausson – Masetto | David Cornell – Commendatore | Richard Van Allen – Leporello | Theo Alcantara – conductor | Horacio Aragon – director | John Wright Stevens – sets

Carmen – Georges Bizet

October 18, 21, 23(m), 25, 1977
Josella Ligi/Janice Hall (10/25) – Micaëla | Katherine Kennedy – Frasquita | Katherine Pring – Carmen | Melanie Sonnenberg – Mercedes | Salvador Novoa – Don José | Howard Fried – Remendado | William Justus/Robert Hale (10/21, 23(m), 25) – Escamillo | Carlos Chausson – Zuniga | Vincent Russo – Morales | Thomas Simmons – Dancaire | Bruno Rigacci – conductor | Sarah Ventura – director | Terry Gates – sets | Howard Bay – costumes

Falstaff – Giuseppe Verdi

February 4, 7, 10, 12(m), 1978
Nancy Shade – Alice Ford | Kathryn Bouleyn – Nanetta | Melanie Sonnenberg – Mistress Page | Muriel Costa-Greenspan – Quickly | David Hall – Fenton | Joaquin Romaguera – Caius | Melvin Lowery – Bardolph | Spiro Malas – Falstaff | John Brácheler – Ford | David Cornell – Pistol | Bruno Rigacci – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Elemer Nagy – designer

Madama Butterfly – Giacomo Puccini

February 11, 14, 17, 19(m), March 15 (Palm Springs), 1978
Atsuko Azuma – Cio-Cio-San | Hilda Harris – Suzuki | Melanie Sonnenberg – Kate | Rico Serbo – Pinkerton | Howard Fried – Goro | John Brácheler – Sharpless | John Del Carlo/Vincent Russo (03/15) – commissioner | Gary Fisher – Yamadori | Robert Roseberry – registrar | Michael Gallup – Bonze | Bruno Rigacci/Joseph De Rugeriis (03/15) – conductor | Sarah Ventura – director | John Scheffler – designer

The Love for Three Oranges – Sergei Prokofiev

February 25, 28, March 3, 5(m), 1978
West Coast Premiere
Diane Curry – Fata Morgana | Mara Baygulova – Linetta | Carolyne McDaniel – Nicoletta | Melanie Sonnenberg – Smeraldina | Muriel Costa-Greenspan – Princess Clarissa | Kathryn Bouleyn – Ninetta | Joseph Evans – The Prince | David Hall – Truffaldino | Leslie Harrington – Master of Ceremonies | John Del Carlo – Pantalone | Harold Enns – King of Clubs | Vincent Russo – Farfarello | William Dansby – herald | John Darrenkamp – Leandro | William Dansby – Tchelio | David Cornell – cook | Calvin Simmons – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Mario Vanarelli – sets/costumes

Aida – Giuseppe Verdi

August 4, 6(m), 9, 1978
Verdi Festival
Martina Arroyo – Aida | Aprile Millo – high priestess | Carol Wyatt – Amneris | Carlo Bini – Radames | Norman Mittelmann – Amonasro | Robert Hale – Ramfis | Phillip Booth – King | Gary Fisher – messenger | Antonio Tauriello – conductor | Tito Capobianc – director | Mario Cristini – sets

Concert: Requiem – Giuseppe Verdi

August 12, 1978
Verdi Festival
Martina Arroyo, Carol Wyatt, Carlo Bini, Robert Hale, soloists | San Diego Symphonic Chorale | Antonio Tauriello, conductor