Joan of Arc at the Stake 1962
This dramatic oratorio…
…highlights the tension and anguish of Joan of Arc’s interrogation and execution.
Synopsis
Prologue
The chorus paints a picture of the despair into which France has fallen and anticipates the mission of Joan.
Scene I
THE VOICES FROM HEAVEN
Brother Dominic brings Joan a book, the record of her life as translated by the angels in Heaven.
Scene II
THE VOICES OF THE EARTH
The chorus condemns Joan as a witch and heretic, using the Latin phrases which she heard so often at her trial.
Scene III
JOAN DELIVERED TO THE BEASTS
Joan’s trial is turned into a bizarre carnival with animals taking the leading roles. The absurdity is underscored by the use of stinging Latin parodies of the Scriptures. A parallel is drawn with the early Christian martyrs in the arenas of Rome.
Scene IV
JOAN AT THE STAKE
Joan searches for a reason behind the pattern of her life which brought her to death at the stake.
Scene V
THE KINGS or THE INVENTION OF THE GAME OF CARDS
The Hundred Years’ War is danced out as a game of cards in this polite satire on war. The leaders on both sides emerge with their pockets full of gold, and Joan is caught in the web of the complicated game of war.
Scene VI
CATHERINE AND MARGARET
Joan’s voices, silent for so long, return as shimmering images from a medieval manuscript, and Joan relives her moment of joy and triumph.
Scene VII
THE KING SETS OUT FOR RHEIMS
Joan’s reunification of France is portrayed as a country fair where two jovial giants, representing the bread and wine of France, are reunited. The scene ends on a note of awesome reverence as Joan watches Charles VII led to Rheims for his coronation.
Scene VIII
THE SWORD OF JOAN
Joan returns in memory to her childhood in Domremy in order to explain to Brother Dominic her faith in God and her sword as a symbol of love. The May Song of the children of her village becomes a recurring theme. Not only was May the month of her greatest triumphs and her death, but it is also the month of the Virgin and a symbol of renewal.
Scene IX
TRIMAZO
The May Song helps Joan to realize that she herself will be the candle mentioned in the song, a burning offering to Heaven.
Scene X
THE BURNING OF JOAN OF ARC
Joan’s burning takes on the mystical qualities of religious ritual, and the work ends on a note of benediction.
Artists
Vera Zorina
Director and Actress
Joan of Arc
Vera Zorina
Hometown: Berlin, Germany
SFO Debut:
Perséphone, Perséphone, 1961
Past Seasons:
Director, Madame Butterfly, 1968
Perséphone, Perséphone, 1968
Director, La bohème, 1967
Director, Capriccio, 1966
Director, Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1966
Director and Choreographer, Daphne, 1964
Prince Orlovsky, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Perséphone, Perséphone, 1962
Joan of Arc, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Atwood Levensaler
Director
Brother Dominic
Atwood Levensaler
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
SFO Debut:
La bohème, 1961
Past Seasons:
Così fan tutte, 1962
Brother Dominic, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Saramae Endich
Soprano
The Virgin
Saramae Endich
Hometown: Steubenville, OH
SFO Debut:
Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, 1958
Past Seasons:
Countess Almaviva, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Lady, Cardillac, 1967
Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni, 1963
Fiordiligi, Così fan tutte, 1962
The Virgin, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Constanza, Abduction from the Seraglio, 1959
Rosalinda, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Mistress Alice Ford, Falstaff, 1958
Doris Yarick
Soprano
St. Margaret
Doris Yarick
SFO Debut:
Baby Doe, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Past Seasons:
The Cook, Le Rossignol, 1969
Pamina, The Magic Flute, 1969
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1969
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Mimi, La bohème, 1967(July 5 – 22)
Daughter of Cardillac, Cardillac, 1967
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Mimi, La bohème, 1964
Sophie, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Parasha, Mavra, 1962
St. Margaret, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1962
Musetta, La bohème, 1961
Micaela, Carmen, 1961
Helen Vanni
Mezzo-soprano
St. Catherine
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 (July 6 – 10)
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
Paul Franke
Tenor
Porcus
Paul Franke
Hometown: Boston, MA
SFO Debut:
Marco Palmiere, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Spoletta, Tosca, 1966 (July 2 – 16)
Chaplain, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Count Elemer, Arabella, 1965
Fiorello, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Goro, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Police Commissioner, The Nose, 1965
Coltellino, The Stag King, 1965
Gherardo, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Alcindoro, La bohème, 1964
La Rainette/Le Theiere, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
The Prince, Lulu, 1964
Don Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Borsa, Rigoletto, 1964
Porcus, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Hussar, Mavra, 1962
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Herod, Salome, 1962
Spoletta, Tosca, 1962
Oedipus, Oedipus Rex, 1960
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Martin Eugene Allen
Tenor
The Usher
Martin Eugene Allen
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962, 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
El Remendado, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 25)
Animal Vendor/ Landlord, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Usher, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Giuseppe, La traviata, 1962
Usher, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Lawrence Boyll
Bass
The Ass/ Grinder Trusty
Lawrence Boyll
Hometown: New York, NY
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Cappadocian, Salome, 1962
Baron Duphol, La traviata, 1962
The Ass/ Grinder Trusty, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Jenneke Barton
Mezzo-soprano
Mother of Barrels
Jenneke Barton
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1961, 1962
Past Seasons:
Mother of Barrels, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Samantha, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Gerald Landon
Tenor
The Clerk
Gerald Landon
Hometown: Portales, NM
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
First Jew, Salome, 1962
Gastone, La traviata, 1962
The Clerk, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
First Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1962
Thomas Page
Tenor
A Priest/ Herald I
Thomas Page
Hometown: Salem, IL
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Third Jew, Salome, 1962
Priest/ Herald I, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Third Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1962
John West
Tenor
Herald II
John West
Hometown: Dayton, OH
SFO Debut:
Count of Monterone, Rigoletto, 1964
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Colline, La bohème, 1967
Gold Merchant, Cardillac, 1967
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
First Soldier, Salome, 1967
Angelotti, Tosca, 1966 (August 13 – 25)
Sparafucile, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 6 – 12)
First Apprentice, Wozzeck, 1966
Betto, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Colline, La bohème, 1964
Schigolch, Lulu, 1964
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Herald II, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Marquis d’Obigny, La traviata, 1962
Bonze, Le Rossignol, 1962
Second Soldier/Fifth Jew, Salome, 1962
Angelotti, Tosca, 1962
Catherine Owens
Soprano
Soprano solo, prologue
Catherine Owens
Hometown: Charleston Heights, SC
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Annina, La traviata, 1962
Soprano solo – prologue, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Bobbian Young
Soprano
Soprano solo, scene I
Bobbian Young
Hometown: Fairless Hills, PA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Soprano solo – scene one, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Don Junod
Tenor
Voice
Don Junod
Hometown: Wichita, KS
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962, 1963
Past Seasons:
Lackey, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
First Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1963
Clerk/ Scene 1 Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Carroll Alexander
Tenor
Voice
Carroll Alexander
Hometown: Park Ridge, IL
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1962
Past Seasons:
Fourth Jew, Salome, 1962
Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Vincent Warren
Dancer
King of France
Vincent Warren
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
SFO Debut:
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Past Seasons:
Spanish Dancer, Carmen, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
King of France, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Rooster, Renard, 1962
Hairdresser, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Howard Sayette
Dancer
King of England
Howard Sayette
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
SFO Debut:
Premier Danseur, La traviata, 1962
Past Seasons:
King of England, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
The Goat, Renard, 1962
Lawrence Eddington
Dancer
Duke of Burgandy
Lawrence Eddington
SFO Debut:
Duke of Burgundy, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Past Seasons:
The Cat, Renard, 1962
Ron Sequoio
Choreographer
Death
Ron Sequoio
Hometown: Houston, TX
SFO Debut:
Death, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Past Seasons:
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Dr. Medicus, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
La traviata, 1965
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Carmen, 1964
Jack the Ripper, Lulu, 1964
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
The Fox, Renard, 1962
Pluto, Perséphone, 1962
Louellen Sibley
Dancer
Stupidity
Louellen Sibley
Hometown: Kentucky
SFO Debut:
Tchaikovsky’s Invitations, 1961
Past Seasons:
Stupidity, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Ravel’s Clarissa, 1961
Indian Maiden, Strauss’ Le Wagon Couvert, 1961
Judith Chazin
Dancer
Pride
Judith Chazin
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Tchaikovsky’s Invitations, 1961
Past Seasons:
Pride, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Clarissa, Ravel’s Clarissa, 1961
Indian Maiden, Strauss’ Le Wagon Couvert, 1961
Premiere Danseuse, Carmen, 1961
Gretchen Schumacher
Dancer
Greed
Gretchen Schumacher
SFO Debut:
Greed, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Nancy King
Dancer
Lust
Nancy King
Hometown: Tidioute, PA
SFO Debut:
Tchaikovsky’s Invitations, 1961
Past Seasons:
Premiere Danseuse, La traviata, 1962
Lust, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Mourner, Ravel’s Clarissa, 1961
Would-be-Squaw, Strauss’ Le Wagon Couvert, 1961
Premiere Danseuse, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Mark Sheil
Apprentice Dancer
Regnault de Chartres
Mark Sheil
SFO Debut:
Regnault de Chartres, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Mitchell Peel
Apprentice Dancer
Duke of Bedford
Mitchell Peel
SFO Debut:
Duke of Bedford, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Salvatore Pernice
Apprentice Dancer
Guillaume de Flavy
Salvatore Pernice
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Guillaume de Flavy, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
John Dickerson
Apprentice Dancer
Jean de Luxembourg
John Dickerson
SFO Debut:
Jean de Luxembourg, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Robert Baustian
Conductor
Robert Baustian
Hometown: Storm Lake, IA
SFO Debut:
The Barber of Seville, 1957
Past Seasons:
Die Jakobsleiter, 1980
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975 (July 30)
La vida breve, 1975
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
Le Rossignol, 1973
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Perséphone, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
The Barber of Seville, 1967
Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1966
Don Giovanni, 1966
Cinderella, 1966
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
L’Enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Giovanni, 1963
Mavra, 1962
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
La traviata, 1962
Così fan tutte, 1962
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Cinderella, 1960
The Barber of Seville, 1959
Abduction from the Seraglio, 1959
Cinderella, 1958
Falstaff, 1958
Così fan tutte, 1958
The Tower, 1957
John Butler
Director/ Choreographer
John Butler
Hometown: Memphis, TN
SFO Debut:
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Past Seasons:
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Henry Heymann
Designer
Scenery & Cotsumes
Henry Heymann
SFO Debut:
The Barber of Seville, 1959 (Scenic Designer)
Past Seasons:
Salome, 1967 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967 (Costume Designer)
Don Giovanni, 1966 (Costume Designer)
Rigoletto, 1966 (Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1965 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965 (Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Daphne, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Gianni Schicchi, 1964 (Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964 (Scenic Designer)
Carmen, 1964 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964 (Costume Designer)
Rigoletto, 1964 (Costume Designer)
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963 (Scenic Designer)
Le Rossignol, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Don Giovanni, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Die Fledermaus, 1963 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Rake’s Progress, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Tosca, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Perséphone, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Renard, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Mavra, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Le Rossignol, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La traviata, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Salome, 1962 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
News of the Day, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
La bohème, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
Carmen, 1961 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Perséphone, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1961 (Scenic Designer)
The Marriage of Figaro, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Tosca, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Rake’s Progress, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
Oedipus Rex, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
Gianni Schicchi, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Cinderella, 1960 (Scenic Designer)
La traviata, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
The Gondoliers, 1960 (Scenic & Costume Designer)
Regina, 1959 (Scenic Designer)
Louise Guthman
Lighting Designer
Louise Guthman
Hometown: Ohio
SFO Debut:
Salome, 1962
Past Seasons:
Così fan tutte, 1962
La traviata, 1962
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Mavra, 1962
Le Rossignol, 1962
Renard, 1962
Oedipus Rex, 962
Perséphone, 1962
Tosca, 1962
John Moriarty
Chorus Master
John Moriarty
Hometown: Fall River, MA
SFO Debut:
Director, Salome, 1962
Past Seasons:
Conductor, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Director/ Chorus Master, La traviata, 1965
Chorus Master, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Chorus Master, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Chorus Master, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Chorus Master, Arabella, 1965
Chorus Master, The Stag King, 1965
Director/ Chorus Master, The Nose, 1965
Chorus Master, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Chorus Master, Rigoletto, 1964
Chorus Master, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Director/ Chorus Master, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Director/ Chorus Master, Carmen, 1964
Chorus Master, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Chorus Master, Daphne, 1964
Chorus Master, La bohėme, 1964
Chorus Master, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Chorus Master, Don Giovanni, 1963
Chorus Master, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Director/ Chorus Master, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Chorus Master, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Chorus Master, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Chorus Master, Le Rossignol, 1963
Chorus Master, Così fan tutte, 1962
Chorus Master, La traviata, 1962
Chorus Master, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1962
Chorus Master, Le Rossignol, 1962
Chorus Master, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Chorus Master, Perséphone, 1962
Chorus Master, Tosca, 1962
Joan of Arc at the Stake 1962
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