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Home , Daniel Oren, Emmanuel Villaume, Francesca Zambello, Franco Zeffirelli, Giuseppe Giacosa, King Roger

WASHINGTON NATIONAL ORCHESTRA

HEINZ FRICKE, MUSIC DIRECTOR

Violin I Cello Oleg Rylatko, Amy Frost Baumgarten, David Jones, Principal Stephen Dunkel Concertmaster Principal Lora Ferguson, Assistant Eric Lee, Associate Elizabeth Davis,Assistant Principal /Cimbasso Concertmaster Principal Stephen Bates Michael Bunn, Principal Zino Bogachek+** Ignacio Alcover+ Joan Cataldo Amy Ward Butler Michelle Kim Timothy H. Butler** Stephen Bates Jonathan Rance, Principal Karen Lowry-Tucker Igor Zubkovsky Greg Akagi, Assistant Susan Midkiff Kerry Van Laanen* Principal Washington National Opera’s Board of Trustees Margaret Thomas Donald Shore, Principal Charlie Whitten Bass Christopher Jewell, Percussion presents Doug Dube* Robert D’Imperio, Assistant Principal John Spirtas, Principal Jennifer Himes* Principal Nancy Stutsman Greg Akagi Patty Hurd* Frank Carnovale, Assistant Bill Richards* A Live Broadcast from Agnieszka Kowalsky* Principal John Ricketts Nancy Stutsman Harp The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Violin II Jeffrey Koczela* Susan Robinson, Principal Julia Grueninger, Horn Sunday, September 23, 2007 Principal Flute Gregory Drone, Principal ADMINISTRATION Joel Fuller, Assistant Adria Sternstein Foster, John Peiffer, Assistant Principal Principal Principal Orchestra Personnel & Richard Chang+ Stephani Stang-Mc- Robert Odmark Operations Manager Xi Chen Cusker, Assistant Peter de Boor Aaron Doty Jessica Dan Fan Principal Geoffrey Pilkington Martha Kaufman John Lagerquist Orchestra Librarian Timothy Macek Shelley Friedman Victoria Noyes Piccolo Tim White, Principal Leslie Nero* John Lagerquist Christopher Tranchitella, MUSIC STAFF By Linda Smith* Assistant Principal Michael Rossi Assistant Conductors by and Viola Igor Leschishin, Principal Ben Malensek Shelley Coss, Principal Carole Libelo, Assistant Trombone Michael Baitzer Based on the novel Scènes de la vie de bohème by Henry Murger Evelyn Harpham, Principal Lee Rogers, Principal Assistant Principal Kathleen Golding Donald King, Assistant Philippe Chao+ Principal Production from Teatr Wielki-National Opera Warsaw Leon Neal English Horn Stephen Dunkel Elizabeth Pulju-Owen Carole Libelo Simulcast Presenting Sponsor Uri Wassertzug M&Ms® Chocolate Candies David Basch* Alexandra Van De Geijn* This production is made possible through the generous support of the + Begins the alphabetical listing of musicians who participate in a system of revolving within the . Eugene B. Casey Endowment. * Guest Musician ** On leave The performance is approximately two hours and ten minutes including one 20-minute intermission.

In Italian with English supertitles www.dc-opera.org

Patrons are requested to turn off pagers, cellular phones, and signal watches during the performance. The taking of photographs and the use of recording equipment is not allowed. FROM THE DIRECTOR MEET THE ARTISTS as Mehta, Maazel, Chailly, Salonen, Villaume, Cam- führung aus dem Serail) with Maryland Concert Opera, When, at the end of the 19th century, Puccini was composing La Bohème, he saw in it his peers— panella, Rizzi, Curtis, and Olmi. Future engagements in- Collatinus (The Rape of Lucretia) with Baltimore The- his 20-year-old contemporaries. His dream was to break the hieratic character of the opera and in- clude La Bohème (Novara), (directed by Zeffirelli with atre Project and Bartolo (Le Nozze di Figaro) with Opera troduce real life to the stage. Then time stopped for over 100 years. Generations changed both on Teatro Stabile di Bolzano), L’Italiana in Algeri (Pisa), Bel Cantanti. As winner of Vocal Arts Society’s Discov- stage and in the audience while La Bohème, once an up-to-date, even documentary tale about the life (Teatro del Maggio Musicale ery Series, Mr. Tarr presented a recital program at the Fiorentino), and (Opera de Oviedo). Kennedy Center. Upcoming engagements include Mes- of artists, became just a charming little story with beautiful melodies. siah with New Dominion Chorale and the title role in In order to reflect the freshness and originality of Puccini’s idea, I decided to give up fin-de-siècle American bass Jeffrey Tarr (Benoit) Maryland Concert Opera’s Giulio Cesare. made his company role debut as staffage and tell something about the contemporary world, about the lives of contemporary artists. the French Soldier in The Maid of Reject ing the historical point of view allows us to focus on the deep truth pervading this work of art, Orleans in 2005. During the 2006– which tells a story about the insignificance of human life—fragile, uncertain, exposed to continuous 2007 season, he appeared as Don shocks. Basilio (Il Barbiere di Siviglia) with Annapolis Opera, Osmin (Die Ent- The plot of this story takes place here and now, in a large city. The characters live in a photography studio, a spacious glass loft, which can be found today in , New York, or Berlin. There is noth- WASHINGTON NATIONAL OPERA CHORUS ing in this tale to specify where it takes place. The style of life in contemporary bohemia is different. Tim Augustin W. Paul Edson Katherine Keem Sarah B. Richey The notion of poverty does not, in fact, exist. Sometimes you have money, other times you don’t. You Ruth Bailis Harvey D. Fort David Kozisek Howard Scott spend it all on hijinks during one night and then wait for fortune to smile on you. We tend to show Shawnee Ball J. Alan Garcia Tricia Lepofsky Hyun-Oh Shin Dorothey Bodner Grace Gori Adrienne Mandley Aaron Silverman feelings in a different way, hiding them under a coat of irony. The customs seem to be different today, as Patricia Boyd Prince Edward Havely Jennifer Mathews Margaret Stricklett are the clothes, but the inner truth of the world remains the same. Angela Butler Ling Ling He Milagros Matos Jonathan Woody Luciana Cecille Richard C. Hoffheins, Jr. Samantha McElhaney Suzanne S. Chadwick Kurt B. Hoffman Joan Morton La Bohème is a story about maturing, about youth, gaining a new dimension through contact with Chenlin Chang Nicholas Houhoulis Seong Won Nam love and death. It becomes full and mature. In this world of appearances, false glitter, and somewhat Connie Coffelt Annadaire Ingram Matthew Osifchin Keith Craig Jennifer Jellings Sheryl Perry gushing artists, the most important character is Mimì, who dominates intellectually over the rest of Raoul J. Daggett William Jones Alan T. Reed the company. The sacrifice of her love, the depth of her feelings, and the death she is carrying in her reverse all the values completely. What is characteristic is that even Puccini’s music, which accom- DANCERS panies Mimì, is totally different. When she appears on stage, time seems to stop. A new perspective Troy D. Brown Sara Elena Jerez Maureen MacNeill Luis Torres Lourdes P. Elias Lisae C. Jordan Amir Raissi and depth of feeling, previously unknown to us, opens to the audience and to the characters of the story. Dying Mimì, when parting, leaves a strong mark on the characters of the opera; she leaves MIMES them a gift which is responsible for the fact that, from now on, nothing will remain the same. When Michal Ciecka Tomasz Nerkowski Tomasz Wygoda in the finale Rodolfo cries out the unforgettable word “Mimì,” a new man is born. SUPERNUMERARIES I have changed the stylistics of my work on stage especially for this tale, making cinema one of the char- Victoria Gregg Andrea McPherson Stacee Prigmore Monroe Jessica Roman acters of the story. This method of narrating or framing resembles film editing; video clips and pro- jections appear on stage. Being a filmmaker by profession, I have tried to convey the experiences of PRODUCTION STAFF my own youth as a student, a time when we light-heartedly played at art and life, when we used to Assistant Stage Managers...... Lynn Krynicki, Diane Lin, Constance Dubinski speak about love by means of a camera. Apprentice Stage Manager ...... Rich Ching Associate Technical Director ...... Christy Blackham Or…when we even declared falling in love by means of a camera. Assistant Lighting Designer ...... Jeff Bruckerhoff Costume Coordinator...... Timm Burrow Supertitles Operator ...... Catheryn Dowd —Mariusz Trelin´ski (Translated from Polish by Mariusz Brymora) The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA), the The technicians at the union of professional singers, dancers and production Kennedy Center are personnel in opera, ballet and concert, affiliated with the represented by Local #22 AFL-CIO, represents the Artists and Staging Staff for the I.A.T.S.E. AFL-CIO-CLC, 22 purposes of collective bargaining the professional union of 2 theatrical technicians. 7 MEET THE ARTISTS La Bohème Italian Golden Gala. He recently debuted at the Metropoli- By Giacomo Puccini (Rodolfo) makes his company tan Opera as Curio in Giulio Cesare and will soon debut with this production. He was make his Glyndebourne Festival debut in productions Sunday, September 23, 2007 chosen as a soloist of the Sistine of L’Incoro nazione di Poppea and . He CAST Chapel Choir and debuted at 13 as will next appear as Masetto in WNO’s production of (In order of vocal appearance) Pastorello in . Soon after, he , as well as in the title role of the Young was singing for major operatic in- Artist performance of Don Giovanni here at WNO Marcello ...... Hyung Yun± stitutions under , and in . Rodolfo...... Vittorio Grigolo* , Myung-Whun Chung, and Lorin Colline ...... Paolo Pecchioli Korean and former Maazel in works by Rossini, Mozart, Bellini, Shaunard...... Trevor Scheunemann±† Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Donizetti, Verdi, and Puccini, among others. At 23 Benoit...... Jeffrey Tarr Hyung Yun (Marcello) made his he became the youngest tenor to open a season at Mimì ...... Adriana Damato*† company debut as a Trojan Soldier in Teatro alla Scala singing in a commemorative concert Musetta ...... * in 2002, returning in 2003 for Verdi. He returned to open another season at La Alcindoro...... Michael Nansel as Masetto in Don Giovanni, as well Scala as Tony in West Side Story (2003) and also Washington National Opera Chorus and Dancers as the title role in the Young Artist opened the season at Teatro dell’Opera di Roma in Washington National Opera Orchestra performance of Don Giovanni. He ’s (2007). Upcoming en- debuted at the as Silvio in Pagli- Conductor ...... gagements include Don Carlo and Les Contes d’Hoff- acci, followed by performances as Valentin in and Director ...... Mariusz Trelin´ski mann at Théâtre de Génève, and Verdi’s Requiem at Lescaut in with Renée Fleming. Other appear- Set Design...... Boris Kudlic˘ka Chorégies d’Oranges with Maestro Chung. In prepa- ances include Angelotti in Tosca with Costume Design ...... Wojciech Dziedzic* ration for his WNO debut, he perfected the role of Opera, Prince Yamadori in Madama Butterfly with Dal- Lighting Design ...... Alan Burrett Rodolfo under Maestro in Pesaro. las Opera, Valentin in Faust with Palm Beach Opera, Choreography ...... Emil Wesol⁄owski and Ping in with . He ap- Wigs & Makeup ...... Elsen Associates American baritone Michael Nansel peared in the 2001 BBC television production of Chorus Master ...... Steven Gathman (Alcindoro) made his company Amahl and the Night Visitors with , di- Cover Conductor...... Gursky debut in Andrea Chénier (Major rected by Francesca Zambello. He was a 2002 Sullivan Diction...... Ken Weiss Domo) in 2004 and returned in So- Awards Winner and a Metro politan Opera National Assistant Directors...... Cindy C. Oxberry, Jonathon Loy* phie’s Choice (Bartender) in 2006. A Council Auditions Finalist. Later this year, he will sing Stage Manager ...... Beth Krynicki member of the WNO Chorus since Marcello in La Bohème with . * Washington National Opera Debut 2004, he has performed locally with ± Former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Wolf Trap Opera in Sweeney Todd Italian bass Paolo Pecchioli (Colline) (First Man), Washington Savoyards in Kiss Me, Kate † made his company debut in 2004 as (Fred Graham), and Opera Theatre of Northern Vir- Alidoro in La Cenerentola. A regular ginia in Il Barbiere di Siviglia (Dr. Bartolo). Equally at THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR SCHOOL SIMULCAST PARTNERS FOR THEIR performer at major opera houses, he home on the non-classical stage, he has appeared re- EFFORTS AND SUPPORT OF THIS PROJECT: has performed a wide range of roles gionally in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast (Beast), Ainsworth High School, Brockton High School, Brown University, Bryn Mawr College, Duke including Attila, Conte di Walter, Sweeney Todd (Sweeney Todd), The Sound of Music University, Hinsdale Central High School, Lowell High School, The Mary Louis Academy, Assur, Mustafà, Selim, Don (Captain Von Trapp), The Merry Widow (Prince Pasquale, Basilio, Bartolo, Raim - New York University, North Carolina School of the Arts, Ohio University, Princeton Univer- Danilo), and Urinetown (Officer Lockstock). ondo Bidebent, and Count Rodolfo. Important inter- sity, Rice University, Samford University, Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, Temple national engagements include Carnegie Hall, Gran University, Tulane University, Union College, U.S. Military Academy at West Point, University Baritone Trevor Scheune mann Teatre del , Bolshoi Opera, Münchner Rundfunk of Alabama at Huntsville, University of Arkansas, University of Colorado at Boulder, Univer- (Schaunard), a former Domingo- Orchester (recorded as Alidoro in La Cenerentola with sity of Florida, University of Massachusetts Amherst, University of North Carolina at Chapel Cafritz Young Artist, has appeared Sony Classical RCA), Concertgebouw Amsterdam, with WNO in Madama Butterfly, Hill, University of Oklahoma, University of Richmond, University of Virginia, University of Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano, di Torino, , Sophie’s Choice, the Washington, Virginia Tech, and Wellesley College Teatro Carlo Felice di Genova, Opera Ireland, Grange Young Artist performance of The Park Opera, Sächsische Staatsoper Dresden, Teatro Elixir of Love, and Dream of the Pa- Special thanks to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Secretary Alphonso degli Arcimboldi (), and the Puccini Festival cific. He also performed with Plá- Jackson, and Deputy Secretary Roy A. Bernardi, as well as the staff of HUD, (Torre del Lago). He has worked with such conductors cido Domingo and Kristin Chenoweth in WNO’s for their support and participation.

6 3 SYNOPSIS MEET THE ARTISTS Act I ing her best to attract Marcello’s attention. (‘Quando Emmanuel Villaume (Conductor) same opera with Opera Wrocl⁄awska in 2006. He In a garret apartment, Marcello is viewing his works me’n vo’) Eventually, she gets rid of Alcindoro and has been a regular guest at WNO will next direct Don Giovanni in Los Angeles. while Rodolfo gazes out of the window. They are falls into Marcello’s arms. The dances begin. with L’Elisir d’Amore, , La cold, and bored to death. The thought of burning Rondine, Le Cid, Les Contes d’Hoff- Italian Adriana Damato Rodolfo’s manuscripts excites them; Rodolfo throws Music is heard outside; the light of fireworks glitters mann, and . (Mimì) makes her company debut the pages on the floor and sets the fire. Colline en- in the sky. The guests join in a merry procession and He is Music Director of Spoleto with this production. She is a win- ters and is intrigued by the situation. Then Schau- leave the café. In the empty room, Rodolfo and Festival USA, where he has con- ner of the first prize in the 2003 Op- nard arrives, showing off the cash he’s earned by Mimì are left kissing. ducted Don Giovanni, Lakmé, Der eralia competition. She recently doing away with a parrot for an English gentleman. Fliegende Holländer, , , and Sa- appeared in Don Giovanni with El Act III lome. His operatic appearances include Werther Teatro de Ópera de Valencia and as The four bohemians decide to use the money to eat At dawn on the street, Mimì walks by as if she were (Oper Köln and Opéra de Monte-Carlo); Goya Mimì in La Bohème in Torre del out. Suddenly, they hear a knock at the door. It is looking for someone. She meets Marcello in the (Klangbogen Festival in ); La Grande- Lago. Other performances include Beatrice di Tenda at Benoit, the landlord, who’s come to collect the rent. entrance to a tavern. She tells him of her hard life Duchesse de Gérolstein (Los Angeles Opera); Samson Teatro alla Scala, Così Fan Tutte with Wiener Staat- Plying the older man with wine, they get him to re- with Rodolfo, who has just abandoned her; she pre- et Dalila (); (Opéra soper, with Opernhaus Zürich, and Aroldo at veal an embarrassing affair, then throw him out in sumes their relationship is over. Marcello tries to National de Paris); and Il Crociato in Teatro Municipale di . In 2003 she won the mock indignation. soothe her. Egitto (Teatro ); Les Contes d’Hoffmann and Concorso Voci Verdiane di Busseto Competition and (Royal Covent Garden); she won the Tosi prize as best artistic discovery of the Marcello, Colline and Schaunard set off for the Café When Rodolfo emerges, she conceals herself for a and Madama Butterfly and Samson et Dalila (The 2003–2004 season in at Teatro Regio di Momus to celebrate, but Rodolfo remains alone in while. Finally, Rodolfo lets on that he left Mimì be- Metropolitan Opera). He has also led the orchestras Parma. She will also perform at Parma in Verdi’s Re- order to work. There is another knock. It is a neigh- cause he is frightened by the deadly illness consum- of Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, quiem, at under Maestro Barenboim, and will bor, Mimì, in search of a light for her candle. She ing her. Mimì falls into her lover’s arms. It seems as Paris, the Royal Philharmonic, and the Montreal make her Covent Garden debut faints, and Rodolfo revives her and offers her some if Rodolfo and Mimì will reconcile and delay their Symphony at Carnegie Hall. Upcoming engage- with La Bohème under Maestro Pappano. She has wine. He relights her candle, and she starts to leave, separation. (‘Donde lieta usci’) While Rodolfo and ments include Tosca (), Thaïs recorded for Deutsche Grammophon with Plá- but then cries out that she has lost her key. The truth Mimì recall their happiness, Musetta quarrels with (La Fenice), ’ Ariane et Barbe-bleue cido Domingo. is that she wanted to meet Rodolfo. She is deathly ill Marcello. After an exchange of insults, Marcello and (Teatro Regio di Torino), Manon (Chicago), and and has decided to spend the last days of her life with Musetta part in fury. (The Met). American soprano Nicole Cabell him. (Musetta) makes her company debut Act IV Polish film, theater, and opera di- with this production. Her repertoire Rodolfo and Mimì tell each other their stories (‘Che Back in the garret, Rodolfo and Marcello try to rector Mariusz Trelin´ski (Direc- includes Pamina (Die Zauberflöte), gelida manina’; ‘Mi chiamano Mimì’) and find seem busy at work, though they are really mourning tor) made his company debut with Juliette (Roméo et Juliette) , the title they are falling in love. Outside, Rodolfo’s friends the loss of their respective lovers. (‘Ah, Mimì, tu più Madama Butterfly in 2001, re- role in Janácˇek’s The Cunning Little call him impatiently. Arm in arm, Mimì and non torni’) Schaunard and Colline arrive. Their turning for Andrea Chénier in Vixen, and Lauretta (Gianni Schic- Rodolfo leave for the café. (‘’) good mood is contagious. 2004 and again for Madama But- chi). She debuted with Royal Opera terfly in 2006. He made his film House Covent Garden as Princess Eudoxie in Act II Suddenly, Musetta bursts in saying that Mimì is debut in 1990 with Poz· egnanie Je- (2006), Deutsche Oper Berlin as Juliette in Roméo et A great crowd gathers in Café Momus, including downstairs, begging to be taken to her lover to die. sieni (“Farewell to Autumn”), which premiered at the Juliette (2006), Opéra National de Montpellier as Marcello, Colline, and Schaunard. They are joined The friends realize that there is no hope for Mimì. Film Festival and won the Andrzej Munk Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore (2006), and Santa Fe Opera by Rodolfo, who introduces Mimì to his friends. Award and a Minister of Culture and Art Award for as Musetta in La Bohème (2007). She has also appeared They all enjoy the performance of Parpignol. Rodolfo and Mimì, left alone, recall their first days best debut. He made his opera debut in 1999 at with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Accademia together. (‘Sono andati?’) Once again, they talk of Teatr Wielki-National Opera Warsaw with Madama Nationale di Santa Cecilia, BBC Symphony Orches- Suddenly, Marcello’s former lover, Musetta, enters os- love and happiness. When the others return, it seems Butterfly and was the company’s Artistic Director in tra, and Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Upcoming tentatiously on the arm of the elderly, wealthy Alcin- to Rodolfo that Mimì falls asleep. But then he dis- 2005–2006. He has directed , Eugene Onegin, engagements include La Bohème with Lyric Opera of doro. She makes a fuss with her exuberant behavior, covers she is dead. Horrified, he cries out her name: Don Giovanni, and Pique Dame, and collaborated, Chicago, Pamina in Die Zauberflöte with Opera Pacific, shouting at the waiters and breaking a vase into pieces. “Mimì, Mimì, Mimì…” among others, with Plácido Domingo, Kent and in Orphée et Eurydice with Teatro Real Alcindoro attempts to calm her down, but she is try- Nagano, , and . He Madrid. In 2005 she won the BBC Cardiff Singer of received the Award for his pro- the World and in 2007 her solo album, Soprano, re- duction of King Roger at Teatr Wielki in 2001; he ceived the Echo Klassik Award for best debut vocalist. directed an award-winning new production of the

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