OPERA AT THE SYMPHONY

The 2005 Opera season was extended just a bit at Davies Symphony Hall, when Igor Stavinsky’s Le Rossignol was performed for the first time in San Francisco, on December 8, 9, and 10.

Supers may remember a call to volunteer to learn the staging of the principals, so that the performance could be videotaped in advance of their arrival. Among those who volunteered were Michael Strickland, Kimberly Thompson, Phillipe Arbeit, Harold Hardin, John Guglielmelli, and Charlie Lichtman. Fortunately for the last two, they were offered parts as two of the four ‘musclemen’ in the actual production. Listed on the cast page of the program as ‘Actors’, their parts consisted of moving four screens around the stage not only for scene changes, but also to facilitate the entrances and exits of the performers. Three of the four also carried contortionists to the stage for their rendition of a mechanical nightingale.

Le Rossignol, adapted from the Hans Christian Anderson story, was written in 1914. It features singers, dancers, chorus, and a large orchestra in the 3-act, 45-minute performance. It was also ‘old home week’, as many of you will recognize tenor Paul Groves (Cosi Fan Tutti) as the Fisherman, our favorite Catherine Cook as the Imperial Cook and Death, Tigran and Ayk Martirossian (both appeared in Arshak II) as the Emperor/Bonze and the Chamberlain, respectively), Saundra DeAthos (who made her SF Opera debut in the recent Ariadne Auf Naxos) and former SF Opera chorister Darla Wigginton as Courtesans, Harold Meers (the Novice in Billy Budd) Brian Frutiger (the tenor who recently performed at our Super Party), and Eugene Brancoveanu (of Adler fame - recently in Fidelio) as the three Japanese Envoys/Courtiers.

Running the show was SFO’s Stage Manager extraordinaire Lisa Anderson, ably assisted by Kim Pross. Kim also stage-managed Oedipus Rex, the other featured Stravinsky piece on the program.

A great time was had by all, and we hope that SF Symphony will continue these semi-staged productions.

Le Rossignol Gallery