San Francisco War Memorial 2000-2001 Semele Page 1 of 2 Opera Assn. Opera House This production is made possible, in part, by the Bernard Osher Endowment Fund. Semele (in English) Opera in three acts by George Frideric Handel Libretto by William Congreve Based on Ovid's Metamorphoses Conductor CAST Charles Mackerras High priest of Juno John Ames William Lacey (11/10,15,19,25) Cadmus, King of Thebes John Relyea Stage Director Athamas, prince of Boeotia Brian Asawa John Copley Semele, daughter of Cadmus Ruth Ann Swenson Set designer Ino, daughter of Cadmus Sarah Connolly Henry Bardon Juno, Jupiter's queen Sarah Connolly Costume Designer Iris, Juno's attendant messenger Christine Brandes David Walker Jupiter, king of the gods John Mark Ainsley Lighting Designer Somnus, god of sleep John Relyea Thomas J. Munn Apollo, god of the sun Todd Geer Chorus Director Ian Robertson Choreographer *Role debut †U.S. opera debut Lawrence Pech PLACE AND TIME: Thebes, in mythological times Musical Preparation John Churchwell Joyce Fieldsend John Parr Ernest Fredric Knell William Lacey Sara Jobin Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Prompter Sara Jobin Assistant Stage Director Roy Rallo Kristine McIntyre Stage Manager Jerry Sherk Wednesday, November 1 2000, at 7:30 PM ACT I -- The temple of Juno Saturday, November 4 2000, at 8:00 PM INTERMISSION Tuesday, November 7 2000, at 8:00 PM Act II, Scene 1 -- A pleasant country Friday, November 10 2000, at 8:00 PM Act II, Scene 2 -- An apartment in Semele's palace Wednesday, November 15 2000, at 7:30 PM INTERMISSION Sunday, November 19 2000, at 2:00 PM Act III --The cave of Somnus Wednesday, November 22 2000, at 8:00 PM Saturday, November 25 2000, at 2:00 PM San Francisco War Memorial 2000-2001 Semele Page 2 of 2 Opera Assn. Opera House Sponsors: The production of "Semele" is designated in honor of Mrs. Jaquelin H. Hume's generosity to San Francisco Opera. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Myron DuBain's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Mr. John Hutchinson's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. The performance of November 7th is designated in honor of Barbara and Ed Eschbach's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. Notes: Edition by Anthony Lewis and Charles Mackerras Produced in association with The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Supertitles are taken from the original libretto SUPERNUMERARIES Katherine Brazaitis Rose Dawydiak-Rapagnani Shaheen Munir Valentina Simi Ann Weiler Keith Bartel Brennan Boyer Alex Ceffalo Keith Clausen Uwe Damerow Gavin Davenport Simon Ehrlich David Grace Todd Jones Joseph Kennedy Carl LaBante Steve Lavezzoli Frank Masson Evan Pallervo Oliver Pollard Alexander Roe Mark Sommerfield Ray Sullivan Aaron Thayer Antonio Toro Randolph Ward Jhaemi Willens.