Joan of Arc at the Stake 1963
This dramatic oratorio…
…highlights the tension and anguish of Joan of Arc’s interrogation and execution.
(presented on a double-bill with The Santa Fe Opera Ballet: Persian Set by Henry Cowell and At the Gate by Arnold Franchetti)
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 returns in memory to her childhood in Domremy 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
James Mitchell
Actor
Brother Dominic
James Mitchell
SFO Debut:
Brother Dominic, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Carla Marioni
Soprano
The Virgin
Carla Marioni
Hometown: Norfolk, VA
SFO debut:
Donna Anna, Don Giovanni, 1963
Past Seasons:
Marianne, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
The Virgin, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Mildred Allen
Soprano
St. Margaret
Mildred Allen
Hometown: Mississippi
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1957 (July 12)
Past Seasons:
Mimi, La bohème, 1967 (July 29 – August 26)
Micaela, Carmen, 1967
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Costanza, The Stag King, 1965
Zerlina, Don Giovanni, 1963
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1963
St. Margaret, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
La Chauve-Souris/La Princesse, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Susanna, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Anne, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1959
Adele, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Alexandra Giddens, Regina, 1959
Mimi, La bohème, 1958
Despina, Così fan tutte, 1958
Nanetta, Falstaff, 1958
Isabella, Wuthering Heights, 1958
Elaine Bonazzi
Mezzo-soprano
St. Catherine
Elaine Bonazzi
SFO Debut:
Mrs. Linton, Wuthering Heights, 1958
Past Seasons:
Mrs. Peachum, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Herodias, Salome, 1976
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (August 12 – 18)
Old Woman, Yerma, 1971
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Herodias, Salome, 1967
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1964
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1964
Carmen, Carmen, 1964 (July 18 – 25)
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1963
La Chatte\ La tasse Chinoise\ La Libellule, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Death, Le Rossignol, 1963
St. Catherine, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Herodias, Salome, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1962
Mother, Mavra, 1962
Death, Le Rossignol, 1962
Baba the Turk, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Duchess of Plaza-Toro, The Gondoliers, 1960
Zita, Gianni Schicci, 1960
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1960
Regina Giddens, Regina, 1959
Prince Orlofsky, Die Fledermaus, 1959
Smeaton, Anna Bolena, 1959
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1958
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
George Shirley
Tenor
Porcus
George Shirley
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
SFO Debut:
Oedipus, Oedipus Rex, 1962
Past Seasons:
L’Egisto, L’Egisto, 1974
Oleander, Melusine, 1972
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1972 (July 8 – 14)
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, 1972
Alfredo, La traviata, 1970 (August 8 – 22)
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1969 (August 21 – 23)
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 20 – 27)
King Leandro, The Stag King, 1965
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1965 (August 14 – 25)
Edgardo, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Alfredo, La traviata, 1965 (August 20 – 28)
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1964 (July 17 – August 29)
Alwa, Lulu, 1964
Apollo, Daphne, 1964
Don Jose, Carmen, 1964 (July 10, 15, 25, August 5)
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1963 (July 6 – 10, August 17 – 23)
Alwa, Lulu, 1963
Porcus, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni, 1963
Italian Tenor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1962
Melvin Smith
Tenor
The Ass/ Grinder Trusty
Melvin Smith
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963
Past Seasons:
Leopold, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Grinder Trusty/ The Ass, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Stanley Kolk
Tenor
Herald I
Stanley Kolk
Hometown: Fremont, MO
SFO Debut:
Narraboth, Salome, 1962
Past Seasons:
Duke, Rigoletto, 1964 (July 1 – 4)
Rinuccio, Gianni Schicci, 1964
La Petit Vieillard, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Rodolfo, La bohėme, 1964 (August 1, 22 – 28)
Painter, Lulu, 1964
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Herald I, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Fisherman, Le Rossignol, 1963
La Petit Vieillard, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Painter, Lulu, 1963
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1963 (July 20 – August 2)
1st Tenor, Renard, 1962
Lee Cass
Bass-baritone
Herald II
Lee Cass
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Frosch, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Past Seasons:
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Attorney, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Herald II, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Schigolch, Lulu, 1963
Bonze, Le Rossignol, 1963
Batyah Godfrey
Contralto
Mother of Barrels
Batyah Godfrey
Hometown: Portland, ME
SFO Debut:
Volupia/ Dido, L’Egisto, 1976
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
Anne, The Mother of Us All, 1976
Filipievna, Eugene Onegin, 1978
Giovanna, Rigoletto, 1964
Maman, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Mother of Barrels, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Junod
Tenor
The Clerk/ Scene 1 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
Stephen Catron
Actor
A Child
Stephen Catron
Hometown: Santa Fe, NM
SFO Debut:
A Child, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Bruce Freeman
Bass
A Priest
Bruce Freeman
Hometown: Kansas City, MO
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963
Past Seasons:
Lackey/ Waiter, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Priest, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Director of Theatre/ Jack the Ripper, Lulu, 1963
Nancy Killmer
Soprano
Prologue Voice
Nancy Killmer
Hometown: New York, NY
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963
Past Seasons:
Ida, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Prologue Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Le Feu, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Carolyn Heafner
Soprano
Scene 1 Voice
Carolyn Heafner
Hometown: Lincolnton, NC
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963
Past Seasons:
Scene 1 Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Jay Wilkey
Baritone
Scene 3 Voice
Jay Wilkey
Hometown: Irvington, KY
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963
Past Seasons:
Scene 3 Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Conrad Immel
Baritone
Scene 8 Voice
Conrad Immel
Hometown: Austin, TX
SFO Debut:
Baron Duphol, La traviata, 1965
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1963, 1964
Past Seasons:
Ivan Ivanovich/ Lackey/ Speculator, The Nose, 1965
Count Dominik, Arabella, 1965
Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Marullo, Rigoletto, 1964
El Dancairo, Carmen, 1964 (July 10 – 25)
Registrar, Madame Butterfly, 1963
Second Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1963
Musician/ Och’s Servant, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Scene 8 Voice, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Wesley Fata
Choreographer
A King
Wesley Fata
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Hairdresser, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Past Seasons:
Daphne, 1981
News of the Day, 1981
Persian Set, 1963
At the Gate, 1963
A King, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Le Cendre, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Michael Nestor
Dancer
A King
Michael Nestor
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
A King, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Phillip Rice
Dancer
A King
Phillip Rice
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
A King, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Dennis Wayne
Dancer
A King
Dennis Wayne
Hometown: St. Petersburg, FL
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
A King, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Myrna Aaron
Dancer
King's Consort
Myrna Aaron
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
King’s Consort, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Mechanical Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 1963
Cathy Boyd
Dancer
King's Consort
Cathy Boyd
Hometown: Westport, CT
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
King’s Consort, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Diana Cartier
Dancer
King's Consort
Diana Cartier
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
King’s Consort, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Elizabeth Wullen
Dancer
King's Consort
Elizabeth Wullen
Hometown: New Jersey
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
King’s Consort, Joan of Arc at the Sake, 1963
Anthony LaGiglia
Dancer
A Knave
Anthony LaGiglia
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
A Knave, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Don Paradise
Dancer
A Knave
Don Paradise
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
A Knave, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
John Richardson
Dancer
A Knave
John Richardson
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
A Knave, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Warren Ruud
Dancer
A Knave
Warren Ruud
SFO Debut:
Persian Set, 1963
Past Seasons:
At the Gate, 1963
A Knave, Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
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 & Costumes
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)
Carl Seltzer
Lighting Designer
Carl Seltzer
SFO Debut:
Die Fledermaus, 1963
Past Seasons:
Don Giovanni, 1963
Madame Butterfly, 1963
Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Persian Set, 1963
At the Gate, 1963
Joan of Arc at the Stake, 1963
Lulu, 1963
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Le Rossignol, 1963
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 1963
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