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Fedora 1977
Craftily contrived tale of passion…
…political intrigue, murder and suicide set to Giordano’s full-blooded, grand opera score.
Synopsis
Act I
The scene is set in St. Petersburg, Paris, and Switzerland.
The home of Count Vladimiro Andrejevich in St. Petersburg. The beautiful princess Fedora Romazov is engaged to Count Vladimir, son of the dreaded St. Petersburg police chief. On a chilly Christmas evening, first Vladimir’s servants and later Fedora herself are impatiently awaiting the count’s return. Suddenly he is rushed in on a stretcher seriously wounded by gunshot. De Siriex, a French diplomat, helps policeman Gretch interrogate the servants for clues as to what could have transpired, and suspicion points to one Loris Ipanov. Fedora pledges her life to avenge this purposeless crime, but in spite of her prayers and entreaties, her fiancé expires.
Act II
Princess Fedora’s home in Paris. Fedora is giving a party together with her friend Olga ostensibly to introduce to society one Boleslao Lazinski, celebrated Polish concert pianist and nephew of Chopin. But Fedora’s real plan is to entrap the suspected murderer, Loris Ipanov, into a confession. While Lazinski performs for the guests, Fedora unwillingly finds herself attracted to Loris. Ignoring her heart, she interrogates the suspect until he finally admits to the murder of Vladimir. The party is ending, as Loris agrees to return in an hour and explain further. Fedora hastily sends a letter to the St. Petersburg police chief which cites Loris as his son’s murderer. When Loris then arrives, he explains instead that the murder was in self-defense, and shows a letter which proves that his own wife had been actually having an affair with Vladimir. When Fedora realizes that she had been duped by her late fiancé, her blood-thirsty anger blossoms into grateful love for Loris, now become her avenger.
Act III
The Alpine villa of Fedora and loris near Berne. The two lovers are living together happily in Switzerland. De Siriex shatters Fedora’s idyllic world by bringing her tragic news. As soon as he received Fedora’s accusation, Vladimir’s father had arrested Loris’s brother. But the poor young man died in prison, and, upon hearing this news, Loris’s mother died of shock. Realizing the fatal consequences of her act, Fedora prays. Loris returns home, opening a letter from his friend Dr. Boroff. He discovers that his mother and brother are dead, that his accuser was a Russian noblewoman living abroad, and that Borov is arriving soon to tell him the spy’s name. At this last news Fedora panics, and begs Loris to show mercy to the unknown accuser. Loris asks her to assist him in discovering the spy, and slaying her. Pushed to the breaking point, Fedora swallows poison, revealing her true identity. Loris is moved by her act of self-sacrifice, and offers his forgiveness. It is too late.
Artists
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Evelyn Lear
Soprano
Princess Fedora Romazov
Evelyn Lear
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Princess Fedora Romazov, Fedora, 1977
Past Seasons:
Venus, L’Orione, 1983
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Douglas Perry
Tenor
Desiré
Douglas Perry
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
SFO Debut:
Timothy, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Old P’eng/Old Mountain Dweller, A Night at the Chinese Opera, 1989
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1979
Journalist, Lulu, 1979
First Jew, Salome, 1979
Bardolph, Falstaff, 1977
Desiré, Fedora, 1977
Dema, L’Egisto, 1976
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
Thaddeus Stevens, The Mother of Us All, 1976
El Remendado, Carmen, 1975
Bardolph, Falstaff, 1975
La Rainette/Le Petit Vieillard, L’enfant et les Sortilèges, 1975
Benoit, La bohème, 1974
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (August 14 – 23)
The Prince, Lulu, 1974
Dema, L’Egisto, 1974
Benoit, La bohème, 1973
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Raoul de St. Brioche, The Merry Widow, 1973
Le Petit Vieillard/ La Rainette, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Goro, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Secretary, Melusine, 1972
First Jew, Salome, 1972
Baron Puck, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Singer, Opera, 1970
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Timothy, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
First Priest, The Magic Flute, 1969
Fourth Jew, Salome, 1969
Spoletta, Tosca, 1969 (July 5 – 16)
Lackey, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
William Dansby
Bass
Gretch
William Dansby
Hometown: Texas
SFO Debut:
Colline (July 6-1)/ Alcindoro (July 28 – August 14), La bohème, 1973
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1971, 1972
Past Seasons:
Pistol, Falstaff, 1977
Doctor, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Gretch, Fedora, 1977
Zuniga, Carmen, 1975
Pistol, Falstaff, 1975
Uncle Sarvaor, La vida breve, 1975
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1973
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Physician, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
First Soldier, Salome, 1972
![David Ward headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/07/David-Ward-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
David Ward
Bass
Grigori
David Ward
Hometown: Dumbarton, Scotland, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Beaupertuis, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Past Seasons:
Grigori, Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Helen Vanni
Mezzo-soprano
Countess Olga Sukarev
Helen Vanni
Hometown: Davenport, IA
SFO Debut:
Tessa, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Countess Olga Sukarev, Fedora, 1977
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (August 24)
Hero, L’Egisto, 1976
Constance Fletcher, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Mistress Alice Ford, Falstaff, 1975
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Mrs. Coyle, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Smeton, Anna Bolena, 1970
Dorabella, Così fan tutte, 1969
Marschallin, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (July 2 – 12)
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Rosina, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Cinderella, Cinderella, 1966
Clairon, Capriccio, 1966
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Rosina, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Octavian, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Jocasta, Oedipus Rex, 1962
St. Catherine, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Dorabella, Così fan tutte, 1962
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Octavian, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Cherubino, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Cinderella, Cinderella, 1960
![Jacque Trussel headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/08/Jacque-Trussel-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
Jacque Trussel
Tenor
Count Loris Ipanov
Jacque Trussel
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
SFO Debut:
Don José, Carmen, 1975
Past Seasons:
Protagonist, The Protagonist, 1993
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1978
Count Loris Ipanov, Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
William Madsen
Baritone
Nicolai
William Madsen
Hometown: Wisconsin
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1977
Past Seasons:
Shepherd, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Nicolai, Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Thomas Collins
Tenor
Sergei
Thomas Collins
Hometown: Missouri
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Sergei, Fedora, 1977
Giuseppe, La traviata, 1976
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Marla McDaniels
Mezzo-soprano
Dimitri (July 23 - August 10)
Marla McDaniels
Hometown: Indiana
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Dimitri, Fedora, 1977 (July 23 – August 10)
Negro Woman, The Mother of Us All, 1976
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Brenda Warren
Mezzo-soprano
Dimitri (August 15 - 23)
Brenda Warren
Hometown: Missouri
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1977
Past Seasons:
A Young Savoyard, Fedora, 1977
Dimitri, Fedora, 1977 (August 15 – 23)
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Andrew Taylor
Baritone
Lorek
Andrew Taylor
Hometown: California
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1976, 1977
Past Seasons:
Lorek, Fedora, 1977
Cappadocian, Salome, 1976
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Thomas Palmer
Baritone
Count De Siriex
Thomas Palmer
Hometown: Harrisburg, PA
SFO Debut:
Count De Siriex, Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Jonathan Mack
Tenor
Baron Rouvel
Jonathan Mack
Hometown: California
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1977, 1978
Past Seasons:
Delio, The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Baron Rouvel, Fedora, 1977
Guard, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
John Brandstetter
Baritone
Borov
John Brandstetter
Hometown: Minnesota
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1977, 1978
Past Seasons:
Angelotti, Tosca, 1978
Monsieur Guillot, Eugene Onegin, 1978
A Mad Lawyer, The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Borov, Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Brenda Warren
Mezzo-soprano
A Young Savoyard
Brenda Warren
Hometown: Missouri
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1977
Past Seasons:
A Young Savoyard, Fedora, 1977
Dimitri, Fedora, 1977 (August 15 – 23)
![John Crosby headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/04/John-Crosby-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
John Crosby
Conductor
John Crosby
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, 1957
Past Seasons:
La traviata, 2002
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Elektra, 2000
Countess Maritza, 1999
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Madame Butterfly, 1998
Salome, 1998
La traviata, 1997
Arabella, 1997
Madame Butterfly, 1996
Daphne, 1996
Countess Maritza, 1995
Salome, 1995
Tosca, 1994 (July 1 – 15)
Intermezzo, 1994
La bohème, 1993 (July 2 – 16)
Capriccio, 1993
Die Fledermaus, 1992
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La traviata, 1991 (June 28 – July 6)
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
La bohème, 1990
Ariadne auf Naxos, 1990
La traviata, 1989 (June 30 – July 12)
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Die Fledermaus, 1988
Feuersnot, 1988
Friedenstag, 1988
Madame Butterfly, 1987
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Die Fledermaus, 1986
The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Violanta, 1984
Intermezzo, 1984
Orpheus in the Underworld, 1983
Arabella, 1983
Die Fledermaus, 1982
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
La bohème, 1981
Daphne, 1981
La traviata, 1980
Elektra, 1980
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1979
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Salome, 1979
Tosca, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Fedora, 1977
La traviata, 1976
Salome, 1976
Carmen, 1975
La bohème, 1974
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1974
La bohème, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Salome, 1972
Don Carlo, 1971
The Grand Duchesse of Gerolstein, 1971
La traviata, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Salome, 1969
Madame Butterfly, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Carmen, 1967
La bohème, 1967
Tosca, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Rigoletto, 1964
Daphne, 1964
La bohème, 1964 (August 22 & 28)
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Salome, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 1962 (and Director)
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
La bohème, 1961
The Gondoliers, 1960
Tosca, 1960
Die Fledermaus, 1959
Madame Butterfly, 1959
La bohème, 1958
Wuthering Heights, 1958
Capriccio, 1958
![Colin Graham headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/04/Colin-Graham-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
Colin Graham
Director
Colin Graham
Hometown: Hove, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Owen Wingrave, 1973
Past Seasons:
Madame Mao, 2003
A Dream Play, 1998
Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Daphne, 1981
Lulu, 1979
The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Eugene Onegin, 1978
Falstaff, 1977
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
![John Conklin headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/05/John-Conklin-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
John Conklin
Scenic Designer
John Conklin
Hometown: Hartford, CT
SFO Debut:
Così fan tutte, 1969
Past Seasons:
Venus and Adonis, 2000
Idomeneo, 1999
Semele, 1997
La fanciulla del West, 1995
Tosca, 1994
Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
La fanciulla del West, 1991
Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
The Black Mask, 1988 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Flying Dutchman, 1988 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Ariodante, 1987
Madame Butterfly, 1987
The King Goes Forth to France, 1986 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
We Come to the River, 1984 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Arabella, 1983 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Daphne, 1981 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Eugene Onegin, 1980
Lulu, 1979 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Eugene Onegin, 1978
Fedora, 1977
Salome, 1972 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Salome, 1969
![Dona Granata headshot](https://images.santafeopera.org/uploads/2023/06/Dona-Granata-375x375-1.jpg?resize=7%2C7&gravity)
Dona Granata
Costume Designer
Dona Granata
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Past Seasons:
Countess Maritza, 1999
Countess Maritza, 1995
Die Fledermaus, 1982
The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Tosca, 1978
Fedora, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Stephen Ross
Lighting Designer
Stephen Ross
Hometown: Illinois
SFO Debut:
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 1978
Count Ory, 1978
Salome, 1978
The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Fedora, 1977
Così fan tutte, 1977
![Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe Opera](https://www.santafeopera.org/themes/childtheme/assets/images/sfo_placeholder--square.jpg)
Terry Lusk
Chorus Master
Terry Lusk
Hometown: Cicero, IL
SFO Debut:
Carmen, 1975
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 1978
Count Ory, 1978
Eugene Onegin, 1978
The Duchess of Malfi, 1978
The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Falstaff, 1977
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Fedora, 1977
Così fan tutte, 1977
La traviata, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Falstaff, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Fedora 1977
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