Ghosts Poster

Ghosts

Ghosts Poster

By Nicolas Reveles

Balboa Theatre
868 Fourth Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

Friday, April 14, 2023 at 7:30 pm

Saturday, April 15, 2023 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 1:00 pm

Ghosts is an evening of three one-act, horror-inspired operas by composer Nicolas Reveles.

Comprised of the works Eden, Dormir and House, San Diego Opera is excited to present the world premiere of these operas. Eden, which features a libretto by director John De Los Santos, explores the boundaries of madness and obsession and is a tribute to Edgar Allan Poe. Dormir, libretto by Michael Vegas Mussman, is an imaginative exploration of what might happen when Old World spiritual practices meet the Christian belief system, when portals open and unknown, powerful entities appear. House, with a libretto by the composer, explores the idea that trauma haunts many of us, and that trauma remains in our bodies like ghosts.

Ghosts welcomes the return of mezzo-soprano Emily Fons and baritone Michael Sokol. Directed by John de los Santos and conducted by Bruce Stasyna.

LANGUAGE – Sung in English with English and Spanish text projected above the stage

RUN TIME – 1 hour and 45 minutes, with no intermission

SD Opera Safety Protocols

PRE-OPERA TALK

The pre-opera talk begins at 6:40 pm before the 7:30 pm evening performances. The Sunday matinee pre-opera lecture begins at 12:10 pm before the 1:00 pm curtain.

POST-OPERA TALK-BACK (Saturday and Sunday performances only)

Stay after the performance for a Talk-Back. Once the curtain falls, there will be a 10-minute break, then join us in the front of the main floor Orchestra section where you can ask questions of the stars and cast (subject to availability), and find out what really happened onstage and backstage during the performance!

SUPPORT GHOSTS

To ensure the success of Ghosts, and allow us to continue commissioning new, innovative works, we ask you to consider making a gift to San Diego Opera.

Meet The Cast

Reveles Nic

Nicolas Reveles
Composer

Fons Emily

Emily Fons
Mezzo-Soprano

Sokol photo Tosca rehearsal square 470x470 1

Michael Sokol
Mr. Costello

Ann McMahon Quintero square 470x470 1

Ann McMahon Quintero
Yadira / Caregiver

Andres Acosta square 470x470 1

Andres Acosta
Javier, her son / Clay

John De Los Santos 2 24 23 square 470x470 1

John de los Santos
Director

Stasyna Bruce

Bruce Stasyna
Conductor

Synopsis in English

Synopsis for Eden

Clay lives as a bachelor in an old family home. He has amassed an enormous collection of paintings, with space for only one remaining. His friend and art-dealer Granada gifts him an unusual canvas that depicts a strange, leafless tree that seems to reach for the viewer. Clay is so overjoyed by his completed hoard of art that he stops leaving the house, neglecting his work and health. His impatient cousin, Sondra, arrives to demand answers, and before storming out, informs Clay that Granada has disappeared. All the other paintings slowly begin to change. A doctor arrives to diagnose Clay but becomes violently ill when he touches Clay’s new painting. Alone again, Clay’s world and paradise wither into a diseased hell, all while the leafless tree continues to reach for him.

 

Synopsis for Dormir

Yadira, an immigrant caregiver, patiently tries to get Mr. Costello into bed for the night, but he resists and insults her. Costello accuses her of conspiring to kill him. Alone, Yadira reminisces about her upbringing in Mexico, and the mysterious legends told by her grandmother. She remembers that tonight is June 21st, “la noche de San Juan”, the Feast of John the Baptist and summer solstice. Yadira’s son, Javier, with whom she has been planning to murder Costello, arrives to save his mother from her abusive employer. Javier enters the bedroom and smothers Costello with a pillow. Almost as soon as her son leaves, Yadira is overwhelmed with guilt. She then hears strange noises and a voice that sounds like the old man calling her name.

 

Synopsis for House

In Providence, Kentucky, an unnamed woman and her two children arrive at an old, two-story country house in the dead of winter. They settle in and retire for the night. Trying to sleep, the woman hears a mysterious scratching which at first, she can’t identify. Mice? Rats behind the walls, or under the floorboards? Spring arrives and the garden surrounding the house bursts into life. The woman sees a lone figure wandering the grounds. She thinks perhaps he can help her with the house, the yard…maybe even the mysterious nightly sounds. Approaching him she seems to get no response, but she gives him instruction about the garden and asks him to return. At night, the scratching persists. One day while waiting for her mysterious gardener, she sees something extraordinary, something that both attracts and repels her. Then she remembers…

Sinopsis en Español

FANTASMAS

Sinopsis de Eden

Clay es un soltero que vive en una casa vieja de la familia.  Él ha acumulado una enorme colección de pinturas, le queda espacio solamente para una más.   Su amigo, Granada, un vendedor de arte, le regala un lienzo raro que muestra un extraño árbol sin hojas que parece tratar de tocar al espectador.  Clay está tan encantado por haber completado su colección de arte, que deja de salir de la casa, abandonando su trabajo y descuidando su salud. Sondra, su impaciente prima llega y le exige explicaciones, y antes de salir furiosa le informa a Clay que Granada ha desparecido.   Todas las otras pinturas lentamente empiezan a cambiar.  El doctor llega para diagnosticar a Clay, pero se pone gravemente enfermo cuando toca la nueva pintura de Clay.  De nuevo solo, el mundo y el paraíso de Clay se van apagando en un infierno de enfermedad, todo esto mientras el árbol sin hojas continua tratando de alcanzarlo.

Sinopsis de Dormir

Yadira, una cuidadora inmigrante, pacientemente trata de acostar por la noche a Mr. Costello, pero él se resiste y la insulta. Costello la acusa de querer matarlo. Ya sola, Yadira recuerda su infancia en México,  y las misteriosas leyendas que le contara su abuela.  Se acuerda que esta noche es junio 21, “la noche de San Juan” , la fiesta de San Juan Bautista y el solsticio de verano.  El hijo de Yadira, Javier con quien ella ha estado planeando matar a Costello, llega para rescatar a su madre de su abusivo jefe. Javier entra a la habitación y asfixia a Costello con una almohada.  Tan pronto como su hijo se va, Yadira se siente agobiada por la culpa. Entonces ella escucha ruidos extraños y una voz que suena como la del anciano que la llama por su nombre.

 

Sinopsis de La Casa

En Providence, Kentuckey, un invierno helado, una mujer sin nombre y sus dos hijos llegan a una casa de campo vieja de dos pisos. Se acomodan y se van a dormir.  Tratando de dormir la mujer escucha un misteriosos rasguños que en un principio no pudo identificar. ¿Ratones? ¿Ratas detrás de las paredes o debajo de las duelas?  La primavera llega y el jardín que rodea la casa se llena de vida. La mujer ve una figura solitaria deambulando por la casa.  Ella piensa que quizá la pueda ayudar con la casa, el jardín… quizá también con los misteriosos ruidos nocturnos. Cuando se acerca a él parece no obtener respuesta, pero ella le da instrucciones acerca del jardín y le pide que regrese. Esa noche los ruidos persisten.  Un día mientras esperaba a su misterioso jardinero, ve algo extraordinario, algo que le atrae y al mismo tiempo la ahuyenta.  Entonces, ella se acuerda…

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