Rigoletto 1966
A hunchbacked jester…
…for a morally corrupt ruler known for his womanizing ways, Rigoletto’s life becomes complicated when his latest wisecrack starts a vendetta that is far from amusing, leaving him cursed.
Synopsis
Act I
The Duke of Mantua boasts of his many amatory escapades in which he is aided by Rigoletto, his jester, a hunchback. Rigoletto, both by his caustic wit and unscrupulous conduct, has made many enemies at the court. He suggests that the Duke might win the beautiful Countess Ceprano by imprisoning her husband. Count Ceprano vows in revenge to abduct a young girl whom he believes to be the mistress of Rigoletto. When Count Monterone forces his way in to denounce the Duke for seducing his daughter, the jester meets him with laughter and derision. As Monterone is led off to prison, he curses Rigoletto.
Act II
Rigoletto has a daughter, Gilda, whom he keeps in strict seclusion. As he hurries home to her, late at night, he broods over the curse of Monterone. He is accosted in the street by Sparafucile, a professional assassin, who offers his services for a fee. The Duke, unknown to Rigoletto, has seen and fallen in love with Gilda, though he does not know who she is. As Rigoletto leaves the house, the Duke slips into the garden, and posing as a poor student, declares his love to Gilda. When footsteps are heard in the street, he flees.
Count Ceprano, believing Gilda to be the mistress of Rigoletto, has formed a plan to carry off the young girl and so arranges it that Rigoletto unwittingly assists in her abduction. Told that it is the Countess Ceprano who is to be kidnapped, he allows himself to be blindfolded and holds the ladder for the abductors as they break into his house and quickly carry off Gilda.
Act III
The Duke believes that his courtiers have robbed him of Gilda. When they return and tell him that the girl is in his chamber, he rushes to the conquest. Rigoletto enters in search of his daughter. Gilda appears and runs in shame to her father, who orders the courtiers to leave. The girl tells her father of the long courtship of the Duke whom she had seen in church. As Monterone is led through the corridors, Rigoletto swears to avenge himself; Gilda, out of love, begs for the Duke’s pardon.
Act IV
Rigoletto engages Sparafucile to murder the Duke. This man has a sister, Maddalena, who lures the Duke to their inn. She becomes fascinated with him, however, and begs her brother to spare his life and kill Rigoletto instead. Sparafucile refuses, but agrees to substitute the next guest who comes to the inn. Rigoletto brings Gilda to the inn to witness the Duke making love to Maddalena in order to cure his daughter of her unfortunate love. Gilda overhears Sparafucile’s promise to his sister, knocks on the door, and is stabbed on entering. Rigoletto returns to collect the body of the Duke and is given a sack. The jester is about to throw it into the river when he hears the voice of the Duke in the inn. He tears open the sack only to find his own daughter and realizes that the curse of Monterone has been fulfilled.
Artists
Chester Ludgin
Baritone
Rigoletto
Chester Ludgin
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
SFO Debut:
Rigoletto, Rigoletto, 1964 (August 26 – 29)
Past Seasons:
Scarpia, Tosca, 1966 (August 17 – 25)
Rigoletto, Rigoletto, 1966
Escamillo, Carmen, 1964 (August 15 – 21)
Jeanette Scovotti
Soprano
Gilda
Jeanette Scovotti
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Gianetta, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Queen of the Night, The Magic Flute, 1969
Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 1969
Gilda, Rigoletto, 1966
Lucia, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Gilda, Rigoletto, 1964 (August 26 – 29)
Nightingale, Le Rossignol, 1962
Clorinda, Cinderella, 1960
Lauretta, Gianni Schicchi, 1960
Ragnar Ulfung
Tenor
Duke of Mantua (August 6 - 12)
Ragnar Ulfung
Hometown: Oslo, Norway
SFO Debut:
Cavaradossi, Tosca, 1966 (July 2 – 16)
Past Seasons:
Herod, Salome, 2006
Captain, Wozzeck, 2001
Aegisth, Elektra, 2000
Bill-Poster/Dean of Law, A Dream Play, 1998
Herod, Salome, 1995
Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville, 1994
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1993
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1992
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Jedediah Potter, The Black Mask, 1988
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1987
Alfred, Die Fledermaus, 1986
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1985
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Basilio, The Marriage of Figaro, 1982
Pollux, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Director/ Benoit, La bohème, 1981
Sellem, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1980
Aegisth, Elektra, 1980
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1979
Herod, Salome, 1978
Fadinard, The Italian Straw Hat, 1977
Herod, Salome, 1976
Director, La bohème, 1974
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1974 (July 6 – August 8)
Director, Lulu, 1974
Director, La bohème, 1973
Vicomte Cascada, The Merry Widow, 1973
La Théière, L’enfant et les sortilèges, 1973
Herod, Salome, 1972
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1969
Herod, Salome, 1969
Adam, The Devils of Loudun, 1969
Monostatos, The Magic Flute, 1968
Valzacchi, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Officer, Cardillac, 1967
Herod, Salome, 1967
Tom Rakewell, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Duke of Mantua, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 6 – 12)
George Shirley
Tenor
Duke of Mantua (August 20 - 27)
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
Gimi Beni
Bass-baritone
Count Monterone
Gimi Beni
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
SFO Debut:
Grand Inquisitor, The Gondoliers, 1960
Past Seasons:
Billy Jackrabbit, La fanciulla del West, 1991
Morbio, Die schweigsame Frau, 1991
Notary, Der Rosenkavalier, 1989
Le Baron, Chérubin, 1989
Frank, Die Fledermaus, 1988
Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly, 1987
Morbio, Die schweigsame Frau, 1987
Ivan Yakovlevich, The Nose, 1987
Frank, Die Fledermaus, 1986
Un Licteur, Orpheus in the Underworld, 1985
Stephano, The Tempest, 1985
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1970
Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, 1970
Emperor of China, Le Rossignol, 1970
Dr. Turtlespit, Help! Help! The Globolinks, 1970
Prince Yamadori, Madame Butterfly, 1968
Speaker, The Magic Flute, 1968
Dr. Dulcamara, The Elixir of Love, 1968
Benoit/Alcindoro, La bohème, 1967
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Bartolo, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Fifth Jew, Salome, 1967
Count of Monterone, Rigoletto, 1966
Sacristan, Tosca, 1966
Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Don Magnifico, Cinderella, 1966
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1965
Ivan Yakovlevich, The Nose, 1965
Bartolo, The Marriage of Figaro, 1964
Benoit, La bohème, 1964
Simone, Gianni Schicci, 1964
Dr. Goll, Lulu, 1964
Sacristan, Tosca, 1960
Trulove, The Rake’s Progress, 1960
Creon, Oedipus Rex, 1960
Simone, Gianni Schicci, 1960
John West
Tenor
Sparafucile (August 6 - 12)
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
Peter Harrower
bass
Sparafucile (August 20 - 27)
Peter Harrower
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
SFO Debut:
Frank, Die Fledermaus, 1963
Past Seasons:
Don Alfonso, Così fan tutte, 1969
Emperor of China, Le Rossignol, 1969
Sarastro, The Magic Flute, 1969
First Nazarene, Salome, 1969
Sarastro, The Magic Flute, 1968
Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1968
Cadmus, The Bassarids, 1968
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Zuniga, Carmen, 1967
First Nazarene, Salome, 1967
La Roche, Capriccio, 1966
Alidoro, Cinderella, 1966
Commendatore, Don Giovanni, 1966
Sparafucile, Rigoletto, 1966 (August 20 – 27)
Count Waldner, Arabella, 1965
Don Basilio, The Barber of Seville, 1965
Raimondo, Lucia di Lammermoor, 1965
Advertising Editor/Doctor, The Nose, 1965
Zuniga, Carmen, 1964
Master Amantio, Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Animal Trainer, Lulu, 1964
Sparafucile, Rigoletto, 1964
Police Commissioner, Der Rosenkavalier, 1963
Commendatore, Don Giovanni, 1963
Chamberlain, Le Rossignol, 1963
Animal Trainer, Lulu, 1963
Jean Kraft
Mezzo-soprano
Maddalena
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
Howard Fried
Tenor
Borsa
Howard Fried
Hometown: New York, NY
SFO Debut:
Spoletta, Tosca, 1966 (August 13 – 25)
Past Seasons:
Monsieur Taupe, Capriccio, 1966
1st Commissioner, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Borsa, Rigoletto, 1966
Michael Riley
Bass
Count Ceprano
Michael Riley
Hometown: Columbus, KS
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Ambrogio, The Barber of Seville, 1967
Count Ceprano, Rigoletto, 1966
2nd Commissioner, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Ruth Falcon
Soprano
Countess Ceprano
Ruth Falcon
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966
Past Seasons:
Countess Ceprano, Rigoletto, 1966
Leon Petrus
Baritone
Marullo
Leon Petrus
Hometown: Forest City, PA
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966
Past Seasons:
Doctor, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Keeper of the Madhouse, The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Marullo, Rigoletto, 1966
Clarity James
Mezzo-soprano
Giovanna
Clarity James
Hometown: Sunrise, WY
SFO Debut:
Gaea, Daphne, 1981
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1966, 1967
Past Seasons:
Mrs. Trapes, The Beggar’s Opera, 1992
Elderly Woman/Society Lady/Widow/Heinrich’s Mother/Citizen, The Sorrows of Young Werther, 1992
Alto Voice, The Black Mask, 1988
Ursula, Feuersnot, 1988
Mary, The Flying Dutchman, 1988
Nurse, L’incoronazione di Poppea, 1986
Omniscient Mussel, The Egyptian Helen, 1986
Lady Toodle, The English Cat, 1985
Leda, Die Liebe der Danae, 1985
Barbara, Violanta, 1984
Old Woman, We Come to the River, 1984
Leda, Die Liebe der Danae, 1982
Mrs. Orchis, The Confidence Man, 1982
Mother Goose, The Rake’s Progress, 1981
Marcellina, The Marriage of Figaro, 1967
Giovanna, Rigoletto, 1966
Paula Page
Mezzo-soprano
A Page
Paula Page
Hometown: Grenada, MS
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1965, 1966
Past Seasons:
Sister Mathilde, Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
Page, Rigoletto, 1966
Flora, La traviata, 1965 (June 30 – July 9)
Robert Pappas
Bass
The Usher
Robert Pappas
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Santa Fe Opera Apprentice: 1965, 1966
Past Seasons:
Jailer, Tosca, 1966
Usher, Rigoletto, 1966
Count Lamoral, Arabella, 1965
Alchemist, The Stag King, 1965
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
John Wright Stevens
Scenic Designer
John Wright Stevens
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
SFO Debut:
Gianni Schicchi, 1964
Past Seasons:
Tosca, 1966
The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
La traviata, 1965 (Scenery Revisions Supervisor)
The Barber of Seville, 1965
Arabella, 1965
Henry Heymann
Designer
Costume Designer
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)
Joan Larkey
Lighting Designer
Joan Larkey
Hometown: Carmel Valley, CA
SFO Debut:
Tosca, 1966
Past Seasons:
La bohème, 1967 (Scenic & Lighting Designer)
The Barber of Seville, 1967 (Scenic & Lighting Designer)
Wozzeck, 1966
Cinderella, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Don Giovanni, 1966
The Rake’s Progress,1966
Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
R. Whitman Procter
Chorus Master
R. Whitman Procter
SFO Debut:
Tosca, 1966
Past Seasons:
Cinderella, 1966
Don Giovanni, 1966
Dialogues of the Carmélites, 1966
The Rake’s Progress, 1966
Capriccio, 1966
Rigoletto, 1966
Wozzeck, 1966
Rigoletto 1966
- Tours
- Transportation
- Dining
- Talk