Intermezzo 2003
Inspired by a real-life marital mix-up…
…Strauss put his own family onstage in this charming comedy.
Synopsis
Act I
Robert Storch, a famous composer and conductor, is about to leave town for a conducting engagement, which delights his wife Christine. She feels under-appreciated and dislikes the evening hours associated with his job. Christine goes to a winter resort and conducts a flirtation with Baron Lummer, who turns out to be an impoverished nobleman searching for a loan. Later on, Christine opens a letter addressed to her husband and is furious to find that it is a love letter from a young woman named Mitzi Meyer. She vows to divorce Robert.
Act II
Robert and his friends, including the conductor Stroh, arrange for an evening of male camaraderie and card games, during which they discuss Christine’s volatile temperament. Robert receives a letter from Christine announcing that she is leaving him. Christine visits a notary and asks him to help arrange for a divorce, but the notary suspects that the real reason for her request is her relationship with Baron Lummer. Stroh and Robert realize that Mitzi has mixed up their names – the love letter was meant for Stroh, rather than for Storch. They explain the confusion to Christine, who is reconciled with her husband.
Artists
Judith Howarth
Soprano
Christine Storch
Judith Howarth
Hometown: Ipswich, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Aithra, The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Christine Storch, Intermezzo, 2003
Scott Hendricks
Baritone
Robert Storch
Scott Hendricks
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
SFO Debut:
Ford, Falstaff, 2001
Past Seasons:
Robert Storch, Intermezzo, 2003
Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin, 2002 (July 19 – August 22)
Erie Mills
Soprano
Anna
Erie Mills
Hometown: Granite City, IL
SFO Debut:
Carolina, Il matrimonio segreto, 1984
Past Seasons:
Anna, Intermezzo, 2003
Zerbinetta, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Anna, Intermezzo, 1994
Atalanta, Xerxes, 1993
Italian Singer, Capriccio, 1993
Aminta, Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Aminta, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Brandon Jovanovich
Tenor
Baron Lummer
Brandon Jovanovich
Hometown: Billings, MT
SFO Debut:
Baron Lummer, Intermezzo, 2003
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1996, 1997
Past Seasons:
B.F. Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 2010
Pâris, La belle Hélène, 2003 (August 20 & 23)
Apollo, Semele, 1997
Welko, Arabella, 1997
Jennifer Roderer
Mezzo-soprano
The Notary's Wife
Jennifer Roderer
Hometown: Wheaton, IL
SFO Debut:
The Notary’s Wife, Intermezzo, 2003
Deborah van Renterghem
Soprano
Resi
Deborah van Renterghem
Hometown: Port Jefferson, NY
SFO Debut:
Resi, Intermezzo, 2003
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2000, 2001
Past Seasons:
Second Elf, The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Barbarina, The Marriage of Figaro, 2000
Christopher Feigum
Bass-baritone
A Businessman
Christopher Feigum
Hometown: Denver, CO
SFO Debut:
Ali, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2002
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1995
Past Seasons:
Businessman, Intermezzo, 2003
Guglielmo, Così fan tutte, 2003 (August 12 – 22)
A Cappadocian, Salome, 1995
Mikhail Svetlov
Bass
An Opera Singer
Mikhail Svetlov
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
SFO Debut:
The Opera Singer, Intermezzo, 2003
Past Seasons:
Dikoj, Kátya Kabanová, 2003
Barry Banks
Tenor
Stroh
Barry Banks
Hometown: Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Oreste, Ermione, 2000
Past Seasons:
Astrologer, The Golden Cockerel, 2017
Ménélas, La belle Hélène, 2003
Stroh, Intermezzo, 2003
Timothy Nolen
Baritone
A Notary
Timothy Nolen
Hometown: Rotan, TX
SFO Debut:
Löwel Perl, The Black Mask, 1988
Past Seasons:
Mr. Flint, Billy Budd, 2008
Benoit, La bohème, 2007
Somarone, Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
Agamemnon, La belle Hélène, 2003
The Notary, Intermezzo, 2003
Taddeo, The Italian Girl in Algiers, 2002
Popolescu, Countess Maritza, 1999
Major Domo, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
Somarone, Beatrice and Benedict, 1998
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, 1997
Popolescu, Countess Maritza, 1995
Frank, Die Fledermaus, 1992
Mr. Peachum, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Wilbur Pauley
Baritone
A Lawyer
Wilbur Pauley
Hometown: Beaver, PA
SFO Debut:
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1993
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1981, 1984
Past Seasons:
Pistola, Falstaff, 2008
Alcindoro, La bohème, 2007
Jupiter, Platée, 2007
Stefano, The Tempest, 2006
Hobson, Peter Grimes, 2005
Ajax II, Le belle Hélène, 2003
The Lawyer, Intermezzo, 2003
Pistola, Falstaff, 2001
Truffaldino, Ariadne auf Naxos, 1999
K.S. Liebenberg, Countess Maritza, 1999
First Player, The Protagonist, 1993
Equerry, The Tsar Has His Photograph Taken, 1993
NCO/Grey-haired Minister, We Come to the River, 1984
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1984 (August 4 – 23)
Alcindoro, La bohème, 1981
Captain of the Guard, The Barber of Seville, 1981
Fourth Shepherd, Daphne, 1981
Marriage License Clerk, News of the Day, 1981
Amanda Borst
Soprano
Marie
Amanda Borst
Hometown: Houston, TX
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2002, 2003
Past Seasons:
Marie, Intermezzo, 2003
Laura Vlasak Nolen
Mezzo-soprano
Fanny
Laura Vlasak Nolen
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2003, 2004
Past Seasons:
Fanny, Intermezzo, 2003
Camille Kowash Tierney
Soprano
Therese
Camille Kowash Tierney
Hometown: Portland, Oregon
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 2003
Past Seasons:
Therese, Intermezzo, 2003
Kenneth Montgomery
Conductor
Kenneth Montgomery
Hometown: Belfast, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Mignon, 1982
Past Seasons:
The Impresario & Le Rossignol, 2014
Susan Graham and Friends Gala Concert, 2012
Alceste, 2009
The Marriage of Figaro, 2008
Daphne, 2007
Cendrillon, 2006
Anniversary Arias Gala Concert, 2006
The Barber of Seville, 2005
Beatrice and Benedict, 2004
La belle Hélène, 2003
Intermezzo, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
Mitridate, 2001
The Marriage of Figaro, 2000
Idomoneo, 1999
Così fan tutte, 1997
The Rake’s Progress, 1996
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1994
Xerxes, 1993
L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Il matrimonio segreto, 1984
Ken Cazan
Director
Ken Cazan
Hometown: Canton, OH
SFO Debut:
The Magic Flute, 1986
Past Seasons:
Intermezzo, 2003
Salome, 1998
Salome, 1995
Intermezzo, 1994
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Carl Friedrich Oberle
Scenic & Costume Designer
Carl Friedrich Oberle
Hometown: Winnenden, Germany
SFO Debut:
Elektra, 1980
Past Seasons:
Intermezzo, 2003
Daphne, 1996
Intermezzo, 1994
Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Feuersnot/Friedenstag, 1988
Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Intermezzo, 1984
Rick Fisher
Lighting Designer
Rick Fisher
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
2025 Season:
Rigoletto
SFO Debut:
The Egyptian Helen, 2001
Past Seasons:
Eugene Onegin, 2021
The Pearl Fishers, 2019
Madame Butterfly, 2018
Daughter of the Regiment, 2015
Rigoletto, 2015
Salome, 2015
The Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 2013
The Pearl Fishers, 2012
La bohème, 2011
The Last Savage, 2011
Wozzeck, 2011
Madame Butterfly, 2010
Albert Herring, 2010
Billy Budd, 2008
Radamisto, 2008
La bohème, 2007
Tea: A Mirror of Soul, 2007
Daphne, 2007
Peter Grimes, 2005
La sonnambula, 2004
Intermezzo, 2003
Madame Mao, 2003
La clemenza di Tito, 2002
La Traviata, 2002
Wozzeck, 2001
Intermezzo 2003
- Tours
- Transportation
- Dining
- Talk