1978-79 Season

Performance History

Hamlet – Ambroise Thomas

October 7, 9, 13, 15(m), 1978
West Coast Premiere
Ashley Putnam – Ophelia | Isabel Veale – Gertrude | Joseph Evans – Laertes | Sherrill Milnes – Hamlet | Robert Hale – Claudius | Joaquin Romaguera – Marcellus/gravedigger | David Dunlap – Horatio | Carlos Chausson – ghost of Hamlet’s father | James Courtney – Polonius | Vincent Russo – gravedigger | Bruno Rigacci – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Carl Toms – sets

Rigoletto – Giuseppe Verdi

October 20, 22(m), 26, 28, 1978
Janice Hall – Gilda | Nancy Jones – Countess Ceprano | Pamela Hicks – page | Joyce Jones – Giovanna | Adrienne Leonetti – Maddalena | Enrico di Giuseppe – the Duke | Gary Fisher – Borsa | Gary Nichols – herald | Louis Quilico – Rigoletto | Vincent Russo – Marullo | David Dunlap – Ceprano | James Courtney – Monterone | Carlos Chausson – Sparafucile | Bruno Rigacci – conductor | Ronald Adler – director | John Naccarato – sets | Carrie Robbins – costumes

Così fan tutte – Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

October 27, 29(m), 31, November 4, 1978
Sung-Sook Lee – Fiordiligi | Katherine Hindrelet-Brydon – Despina | Susanne Marsee – Dorabella | Joseph Evans – Ferrando | Lenus Carlson – Guglielmo | Andrew Foldi – Don Alfonso | Theo Alcantara – conductor | Jan Bouws – director | John Naccarato – sets | John Naccarato/Edguard Johnson – costume designers

Manon Lescaut – Giacomo Puccini

May 12, 15, 18, 20(m), 1979
Ilona Simon – Manon Lescaut | Marnie Clark – singer | Carlo Bini – des Grieux | Gary Fisher – Edmondo | Cary Archer Smith – Lescaut | Carlos Chausson – Geronte | Vincent Russo – innkeeper | Joseph Frank – dancing master/lamplighter | David Dunlap – sergeant | Gary Nichols – captain | John Mauceri – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Marsha Louis Eck – sets

Cavalleria Rusticana – Pietro Mascagni

May 19, 22, 25, 27(m), 1979
Marvellee Cariaga – Santuzza | Melanie Sonnenberg – Lola | Jane Westbrook – Mamma Lucia | Harry Theyard – Turiddu | William Justus – Alfio | Joseph De Rugeriis – conductor | Fabrizio Melano – director | Allen Charles Klein – sets

Pagliacci – Ruggiero Leoncavallo

May 19, 22, 25, 27(m), 1979
Diana Soviero – Nedda | Harry Theyard – Canio | David Hall – Beppe | William Justus – Tonio | John Del Carlo – Silvio | Robert Roseberry, Gerald Whitney – villagers | Joseph De Rugeriis – conductor | Fabrizio Melano – director | Allen Charles Klein – sets

La Loca – Gian Carlo Menotti

June 3, 5, 8, 10(m), 1979
World Premiere
Beverly Sills – Juana | Susanne Marsee – Dona Manuela | Jane Westbrook – nurse | Marcia Cope, Martha Jane Howe – ladies-in-waiting | Joseph Evans – Miguel de Ferrera | John Brácheler – Felipe/Fernando/Carlos V | Vincent Russo – chaplain | Robert Hale – Ximenes de Cisneros | Carlos Chausson – Marques de Denia | Calvin Simmons – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Mario Vanarelli – sets/costumes

I Lombardi – Giuseppe Verdi

June 22, 24(m), 30, 1979
West Coast Premiere
Verdi Festival
Cristina Deutekom – Giselda | Lynne Martindale-Schafer – Viclinda | Leslie Richards – Sofia | Rico Serbo – Arvino | Carlo Bergonzi – Oronte | Paul Plishka – Pagano | Carlos Chausson – Pirro | Michael Magiera – Prior | J. Patrick Raftery – Acciano | Maurizio Arena – conductor | Tito Capobianco – director | Mario Vanarelli – sets

La Traviata – Giuseppe Verdi

June 29, July 1(m), 7, 1979
Verdi Festival
Diana Soviero – Violetta | Martha Jane Howe – Annina | Jane Westbrook – Flora | Vittorio Terranova – Alfredo | Michael Magiera – Gaston | John Brácheler – Germont | J. Patrick Raftery – Douphol | David Dunlap – Grenvil | Vincent Russo – Marchese d’Obigny | James Flynn – Giuseppe | Jeffrey L. Shipman – messenger | Gary Nichols – servant | Hans Vonk – conductor | Charles Nelson Reilly – director | Carl Toms – sets/costumes

Concert: Gala Verdi Concert – Verdi

June 28, 1979
Verdi Festival
Christina Deutekom, Leslie Richards, Carlo Bergonzi, Rico Serbo, John Brácheler, Paul Plishka, J. Patrick Raftery, soloists | Saddleback Concert Chorale | John Balme/Michael Parker, conductors

Back to Top