La traviata 1968
The story of Violetta’s passion for Alfredo…
…and her heart-wrenching realization that she must leave him forever.
Synopsis
Act I
Violetta, renowned courtesan, is hostess to a party of the Parisian demi-monde. Late arrivals include her friend Flora and the Marquis. who caution her against excessive revelry after her recent illness. Violetta insists that only a life of pleasure can sustain her. Gastone introduces his friend Alfredo, and calls upon him for a toast, which develops into a flirtation between Alfredo and Violetta. The band in the ballroom begins a waltz. As the guests start in, Violetta is taken ill. After the others leave, Alfredo returns to express his concern for Violetta’s health and to declare his love. She advises him to forget about her, and offers him only friendship. Before he leaves, she gives him a camellia blossom, inviting him to return it the next day when it has withered. After the guests leave, Violetta ponders the possibility of a serious affair with Alfredo, but quickly dismisses the thought as a caprice. Trying to forget Alfredo’s words, which insistently echo in her mind, she decides to continue her life of pleasure.
Act II
Three months have passed, and the platonic friendship of Violetta and Alfredo has blossomed into a passionate romance. Violetta, now living with Alfredo, has abandoned her former life, and health has returned. Alfredo discovers from Annina that Violetta has been selling her personal belongings to pay for their country idyll. He rushes off to Paris to borrow money in order to settle her debts himself. Violetta receives a party invitation from Flora, which she decides to ignore. The servants arc instructed to admit a lawyer, but the visitor is Alfredo’s father who accuses Violetta of leading his son to ruin. Violetta professes a sincere love, but Germont insists that she must leave Alfredo in order to protect the forthcoming marriage of Alfredo’s sister. When Violetta refuses, Germont uses every argument at his command, and finally convinces her to end the romance. Alfredo surprises her in the act of writing to him, and she leaves in confusion after a passionate affirmation of her love. Soon afterward, the farewell note from Violetta is delivered to Alfredo; the elder Germont, who has been waiting in the garden, attempts to console his son and to persuade him to return home. Finding the invitation from Flora, Alfredo rushes out to seek Violetta in Paris.
Act III
Flora is hostess at a Spanish masquerade. The guests, having already heard the news that Violetta and Alfredo have separated, are surprised when Alfredo arrives. He begins to gamble, and his caustic remarks drive the Baron, who has arrived with Violetta, to challenge him to a game of cards. The guests leave for dinner. Violetta pleads with Alfredo to leave the party, but he refuses. He summons the guests to hear his denunciation of Violetta, and throws his winnings at her feet. The elder Germont enters and rebukes his son. Finally, the Baron challenges Alfredo to a duel.
Act IV
Violetta has taken to bed in what appears to be the final stage of her illness. Dr. Grenvil offers encouragement, but he tells Annina that death is only a few hours away. Violetta rereads a letter from Alfredo’s father, and sings a touching farewell to past happiness. The sounds of Mardi Gras revelry reach her ears; at the lowest point of her despair, Annina rushes in to announce Alfredo’s arrival. The lovers plan to leave Paris at once. Violetta attempts to dress, but she collapses from weakness. As she prepares for death, she gives Alfredo a medallion with her portrait to keep as a remembrance. Suddenly her pains cease and, as so often happens with victims of her illness, she feels a sudden burst of energy before falling dead.
Artists
Patricia Brooks
Soprano
Violetta (July 13 - 17)
Patricia Brooks
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Adele, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Past Seasons:
Lulu, Lulu, 1974
Violetta, La traviata, 1968 (July 13 – 17)
Manon Lescaut, Boulevard Solitude, 1967
L’Enfant, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1963
Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 1963
Maralin Niska
Soprano
Violetta (August 2 - 30)
Maralin Niska
Hometown: San Pedro, CA
SFO Debut:
Madame Butterfly, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (July 2 – 12)
Past Seasons:
Violetta Valery, La traviata, 1970
Floria Tosca, Tosca, 1969 (August 21 – 23)
Violetta Valery, La traviata, 1968 (August 2 – 30)
Stuart Burrows
Tenor
Alfredo (July 13 - August 22)
Stuart Burrows
Hometown: Cilfynydd, Wales, United Kingdom
SFO Debut:
Tamino, The Magic Flute, 1968
Past Seasons:
Camille de Rosillon, The Merry Widow, 1973
Fisherman, Le Rossignol, 1973
Tamino, The Magic Flute, 1969
Fisherman, Le Rossignol, 1969
Alfredo, La traviata, 1968 (July 13 – August 22)
Nemorino, The Elixir of Love, 1968 (August 17 – 23)
Anastasios Vrenios
Tenor
Alfredo (August 30)
Anastasios Vrenios
Hometown: Turlock, CA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966 (as Ernie Vrenios)
SFO Debut:
Nemorino, The Elixir of Love, 1968 (July 19 -24)
Past Seasons:
Eumolpus, Perséphone, 1968
Italian Tenor, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Alfredo, La traviata, 1968 (August 30)
A Soldier, Wozzeck, 1966
George Fortune
Baritone
Germont
George Fortune
Hometown: Boston, MA
SFO Debut:
Marcello, La bohème, 1967
Past Seasons:
Papa Germont, La traviata, 1968
Herr von Faninal, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Monk, Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Lescaut, Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Jean Kraft
Mezzo-soprano
Flora
Jean Kraft
Hometown: Menasha, WI
SFO Debut:
Adelaide von Waldner, Arabella, 1965
Past Seasons:
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Housekeeper, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1986
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Juno, The Tempest, 1985
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1984
Notary’s Wife, Intermezzo, 1984
May/Madwoman 4, We Come to the River, 1984
Berta, The Barber of Seville, 1981
Miss Pick, News of the Day, 1981
Madame Larina, Eugene Onegin, 1980
Herodias, Salome, 1979
Mistress Meg Page, Falstaff, 1977
Geneviève, Pelléas et Mélisande, 1977
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1976 (July 10 – 23; August 21 -24)
Mistress Meg Page, Falstaff, 1975
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1974
Countess Geschwitz, Lulu, 1974
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
Kate Julian, Owen Wingrave, 1973
Suzuki, Madame Butterfly, 1972
Herodias, Salome, 1972
Miss Newkirk, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Flora, La traviata, 1970
Death, Le Rossignol, 1970
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Miss Newkirk, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Death, Le Rossignol, 1969
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herodias, Salome, 1969
Ninon, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Annina, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Gianetta, The Elixir of Love, 1968
Flora, La traviata, 1968
Third Lady, The Magic Flute, 1968
Maddalena, Rigoletto, 1966
Thisbe, Cinderella, 1966
Prioress, Dialogues of the Carmelites, 1966
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Margret, Wozzeck, 1966
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Ray Hickman
Bass
Marquis d'Obigny
Ray Hickman
Hometown: Massachusetts
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Angelotti, Tosca, 1969
Second Armored Man, The Magic Flute, 1969
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1969
Second Soldier, Salome, 1969
Mannoury, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Commissioner, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (August 15 – 31)
Marquis d’Obigny, La traviata, 1968
Lackey, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
John Stewart
Tenor
Gaston
John Stewart
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
SFO Debut:
Cavalier, Cardillac, 1967
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Sebastian, The Tempest, 1985
Baron Lummer, Intermezzo, 1984
Matteo, Violanta, 1984
Guido Bardi, A Florentine Tragedy, 1984
Apollo, L’Orione, 1983
Count Elemer, Arabella, 1983
Narraboth, Salome, 1978
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1972 (August 2 – 24)
Narraboth, Salome, 1972
Ferrando, Così fan tutte, 1969
Narraboth, Salome, 1969
De Laubardemont, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Pinkerton, Madame Butterfly, 1968 (August 15 – 31)
Gaston, La traviata, 1968
A Landlord, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
One of the Called, Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Narraboth, Salome, 1967
Yarizhkin, The Nose, 1965
Servant, Lulu, 1964
Thomas Jamerson
Baritone
Baron Duphol
Thomas Jamerson
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
SFO Debut:
Baron Duphol, La traviata, 1968
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1964, 1965
Past Seasons:
Captain of the Royal Guard, The Bassarids, 1968
Struggling Soul, Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
Djura, Arabella, 1965
Captain of the Guard, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Commissioner, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Alchemist, The Stag King, 1965
Customs Officer, La bohème, 1964
Richard Best
Bass-baritone
Dr. Grenvil
Richard Best
Hometown: Chicago, IL
SFO Debut:
Dr. Grenvil, La Traviata, 1965
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1959, 1960, 1961
Past Seasons:
Second Armored Man, The Magic Flute, 1984
Aide, We Come to the River, 1984
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Jarno, Mignon, 1982
Old Plain Talk, The Confidence Man, 1982
General Boum, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1974
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1971
Baron Grog, Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
Friar, Don Carlo, 1971
Sacristan, Tosca, 1969
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1969
Fifth Jew, Salome, 1969
Dr. Turtlespit, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
Bontemps, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Dr. Grenvil, La Traviata, 1968
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1968
Second Priest, The Magic Flute, 1968
Notary, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Bonze, Madame Butterfly, 1965
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Vendor/Coachman/General, The Nose, 1965
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1961
Marschallin’s Attorney/Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1961
Jacob, The Ballad of Baby Doe, 1961
Museum Guide, News of the Day, 1961
Antonio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1960
Guccio, Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Cal, Regina, 1959
Janet Wagner
Mezzo-soprano
Annina
Janet Wagner
Hometown: Illinois
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1967, 1968
Past Seasons:
Annina, La traviata, 1968
David Ramirez
Tenor
Giuseppe
David Ramirez
Hometown: Kansas
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968
Past Seasons:
Giuseppe, La traviata, 1968
Faninal’s Major Domo, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Paul Rohrbaugh
Bass
The Commissioner
Paul Rohrbaugh
Hometown: Ohio
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
2nd Japanese Envoy, Le Rossignol, 1969
Commissioner, La traviata, 1968
Steven Tachell
Bass
Servant
Steven Tachell
Hometown: Washington
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1968, 1969
Past Seasons:
Servant, La traviata, 1968
Och’s Servant, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
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
Lotfi Mansouri
Director
Lotfi Mansouri
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
SFO Debut:
The Barber of Seville, 1965
Past Seasons:
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1979
Don Carlo, 1971
Anna Bolena, 1970
La traviata, 1970
Tosca, 1969
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
La traviata, 1968
Salome, 1967
Carmen, 1967
Wozzeck, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
Cinderella, 1966
Tosca, 1966
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Robert O'Hearn
Designer
Scenery
Robert O'Hearn
Hometown: Elkhart, IN
SFO Debut:
La traviata, 1968 (Scenic Design)
Past Seasons:
The Elixir of Love, 1968 (Costume Design)
Ron Sequoio
Choreographer
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
Georg Schreiber
Lighting Designer
Georg Schreiber
Hometown: Albuquerque, NM
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, 1964
Past Seasons:
The Mother of Us All, 1976
Salome, 1976
L’Egisto, 1976
The Marriage of Figaro, 1976
La traviata, 1976
The Cunning Little Vixen, 1975
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1975
La vida breve, 1975
Così fan tutte, 1975
Falstaff, 1975
Carmen, 1975
L’Egisto, 1974
Lulu, 1974
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1975
The Magic Flute, 1974
La bohème, 1974
Owen Wingrave, 1973
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Le Rossignol, 1973
The Merry Widow, 1973
The Marriage of Figaro, 1973
La bohème, 1973
Salome, 1972
Pelléas et Mélisande, 1972
Madame Butterfly, 1972
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1972
Yerma, 1971
The Flying Dutchman, 1971
The Marriage of Figaro, 1971
Grand Duchess of Gerolstein, 1971
The Magic Flute, 1971
Don Carlo, 1971
Opera, 1970
The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Anna Bolena, 1970
The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Le Rossignol, 1970
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
La traviata, 1970
The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Le Rossignol, 1969
Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1969
The Magic Flute, 1969
Così fan tutte, 1969
Salome, 1969
Perséphone, 1968
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
The Bassarids, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
Madame Butterfly, 1968
Salome, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Cardillac, 1967
Carmen, 1967
The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
The Nose, 1965
The Stag King, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Madame Butterfly, 1965
The Barber of Seville, 1965
La traviata, 1965
Lulu, 1964
La bohème, 1964
Daphne, 1964
L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1964
Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Carmen, 1964
The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Martin Smith
Chorus Master
Martin Smith
SFO Debut:
Carmen, 1967
Past Seasons:
Perséphone, 1968
Die Jakobsleiter, 1968
The Bassarids, 1968
Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
The Elixir of Love, 1968
La traviata, 1968
The Magic Flute, 1968
Madame Butterfly, 1968
The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Boulevard Solitude, 1967
Cardillac, 1967
The Barber of Seville, 1967
La bohème, 1967
La traviata 1968
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