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1962 production photo from The Rake's Progress

The Rake's Progress 1962

August 15 - 17, 1962

Hogarth’s engravings come to life…

…in Stravinsky’s witty moral tale of the decline of Tom Rakewell at the hands of Nick Shadow, Baba the Turk and Mother Goose.

Music By
Igor Stravinsky
Libretto By
W.H. Auden and Chester Kallman

Synopsis

Act I

In the garden of Trulove’s country house Anne Trulove and Tom Rakewell rejoice in the spring, which seems made for their love, while Anne’s father hopes that his fears about Tom’s future may prove unfounded. As Anne goes into the house, Tom scorns Trulove’s offer of a position, and the father assures Tom that he will not have his daughter marry a lazy man. But Tom, left alone, reveals that he will trust to luck to make his fortune. Just as Tom wishes for money, Nick Shadow appears at the gate with, so he says, good tidings for Tom Rakewell. Tom calls for Anne and her father to hear the good news: he has been left a fortune by an unknown uncle.

All rejoice in Tom’s good luck, but Nick reminds Tom that be must go to London to unravel complications in the inheritance. Tom agrees to go with Nick, retaining Nick for a year and a day, at which point he will reckon up what Nick’s services have been worth. With a word of farewell, Tom leaves for London, as Nick turns to the audience: “The progress of a Rake begins.”

The second scene is Mother Goose’s brothel in London, where Nick has brought Tom in search of entertainment. At the company’s request, Tom sings a sad song. His mood is forgotten, however, when Mother Goose claims him for the night. They go off together as the crowd sings a rollicking refrain.

Back at her father’s house, Anne worries over Tom’s silence. When her father calls, she decides she will go in search of Tom, who needs her more than her father.

Artists

Loren Driscoll

Tenor

Tom Rakewell

John Reardon

Baritone

Nick Shadow

Doris Yarick

Soprano

Anne

Therman Bailey

Bass

Trulove

Jacquiline Rohrbacker

Mezzo-soprano

Mother Goose

Elaine Bonazzi

Elaine Bonazzi

Mezzo-soprano

Baba, the Turk

Paul Franke

Tenor

Sellem

William Wiederanders

Bass

Keeper of the Madhouse

Robert Craft

Conductor

Bliss Hebert

Director

Patton Campbell

Costume Designer

Henry Heymann

Designer

Scenery

Louise Guthman

Lighting Designer

John Moriarty

Chorus Master