Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON July 16, 1975 Dear Friends, II • •• I am grateful for this opportunity to convey my gratitude and my admiration for the outstanding accomplishments of Music Hall Center. In a nation which reveres its growing cultural heritage, the efforts of Music Hall Center to enhance and encourage involvement with the performing arts are truly to be commended. You have not only enriched the I ives of the many people in the Detroit area who have had the opportun ity to attend your performances, you have also created for the entire community a spirit of expectation, excitement and appreciation. With admiration for your program and warmest best wishes", Sincerely, f J~ -----------------------------Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 1975-76 Season Program PORGY AND BESS October 3 through 11 • LA BOHEME November 7, 9, 12, 14, 15 • LUCIA di LAMMERMOOR January 16, 18, 21, 23, 24 • THE BARBER OF SEVILLE February 6, 8, 11, 13, 14 MUSIC HALL CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS 350 Madison Avenue • Delroil, Michigan 48226 Phone (3 13) 963-3717 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre ____ Mi chi ga n Opera Theatre is a member of OPERA, America, ____ 2 Mla-nCAN PERA OFFICERS BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. and Mrs. Lynn A. Townsend Mr. and Mrs. Avern L. Cohn Co-chairmen, Board of Directors Mr. and Mrs. John H. DeCarlo Dr. David DiChiera Mr. and Mrs. Robert E. Dewar President Dr. and Mrs. David DiChiera Mr. and Mrs. Frank W. Donovan Mr. John C. Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Aaron H. Gershenson Treasurer Mr. and Mrs. Donald C. Graves Mr. Robert M. Heuer The Honorable and Mrs. Roman S. Gribbs Assistant Treasurer, Secretary Mr. and Mrs. John C. Griffin Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Jones Mr. E . Harwood Rydholm The Honorable and Mrs. Wade H. McCree, Jr. Assistant Secretary Mr. Harry J. Nederlander McClintock, Donovan, Carson & Roach Mr. E. Harwood Rydholm Legal Counsel Mr. and Mrs. Neil Snow Touche Ross & Co. Mr. and Mrs. Richard Strichartz Accountants Mr. and Mrs. Lynn A. Townsend Mr. and Mrs. Robert C. VanderKloot Mr. and Mrs. Sam B. Williams Mr. and Mrs. Theodore O. Yntema Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Young MOT - 1975-76 CAPTAINS ADVERTISING COMMITTEE Chairman Co-Chairmen Mrs. Peter Cooper Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ciupak Mr. and Mrs. Victor Wertz Mrs. Julian Becker Miss Elea nor Bennink Marcy Bright Mrs. James J . Bird Mrs. Edmund B. Campbell Mrs. John R. Brooks Mrs. Peter Cooper f Mr. Edward Bush Mrs. David DiChiera Mrs. Thelma E. Connely Mrs. Lloyd H. Diehl, Jr. Mrs. Abraham Cooper Mrs. Hanna Dietz Mrs. Julio Davila Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hanson Mrs. Philip B. Fischer Mr. Mitchell 1. Kafarski Mrs. Glen Gordon Mr. Neil Snow Mrs. James Gorden Mr. James VanderKloot Mrs. Eric Goullaud Mrs. Robert C. VanderKloot Mrs. H. Thomas Hunt Mrs. Lawrence Lee Mrs. Robert Lyons Mrs. Thomas V. Lo Cicero Mrs. Wade H. McCree, Jr. Mrs. Lee H. Olmstead Mrs. John J. Puleo Mrs. Neil Snow Mrs. William L. Thompson Mrs. Robert VanderKloot Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 3 A Message From Our General Director Mich:igan 'U"IJ''''. "" Theatre welcomes you to our fifth season pn~selltirlg opera in English at Music HaU I look ",h."ril1'o with you a season of standing ovations as we world - from America's South, to 1975-76 Season of Paris, on to the Scottish Highlands, and finally sunny Seville - aU on the of music and ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF This year also will be hiJl:hlighlled by five beautiful young sopranos who, critics agree, to reach interna- tional stardom. Leona Mitchell will alternate in the role of Bess in Porgy and Bess; is Mimi in Robert M. La Boheme; Catherine Malfitano will Lucia in Lucia di Managing Dil"ector Lammermoor; and Ruth Welting is The Barber of Seville. Our outstate tour of communities from Livonia to Traverse City has estabilshed as one of Michigan's major cultural resources. Thousands of our fellow citizens have had the oppor- tunity to enjoy as our traveling company has presented workshops, and productions in classrooms, gym- nasia, and throughout the state. Plans are now nn,n"'lr_ way to Copland's The Tender Land to more com- April of 1976. Looking ahead, MOT, in its first commissioned production, has engaged the renowned Thtonlas Pa~iatjleri to compose an original opera for a world premiere. The most sought COinpOSf~r in America, Mr. Pasatieri written the widely acclaimed Black Widow for the Seattle Opera Company, The Seagull for Houston Grand Opera and The Trial of Mary for National Public Television. This promises to be a landmark event in cultural history, and will attract critics and lovers from throughout the nalti0l1. AU of these - our and diverse season, our dynamic 'U'U''''''' Program, and the Pasatieri - are giving MOT a national reputation as a company in the forefront of American and ideas. For this I am grateful to a dedicated staff, a supportive board of all, to the generosity and of our many contributors and patrons. To allCopyright of you, 2010, a heartfelt Michigan thank Opera you. Theatre 4 T PPG's heated backlight quietly eliminates frost, condensation, and 908 grams. You probably know how effectively ing thinner, tempered backlights. greater visibility, or just want to our heated backlight eliminates Of course, lighter glass can help get some weight off your mind, moisture that can obscure a driver's make lighter cars. And the real talk to us today about tomorrow. back vision. Quiet, simple, and beauty of a lighter car these days PPG Industries, Inc. Glass for the reliable. is its smaller appetite for gasoline. automotive industry. In Detroit, But did you know we have elimi­ PPG experts are always search­ 444-4760. nated weight, too? More than two ing for ways to improve automotive pounds on some models. glass. And we've got a habit of find­ PPG: a Concern for the Future No magic pill. Just thinner, ing them and putting them to good lighter glass. use fast and reliably. The innovators at PPG are mak- So whether you're looking for Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre liNDLJSTIRIES 5 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 6 1976. A new world of cars awaits you ., from General Motors. If you haven't been in the new-car market for the past few years, get ready for some dramatically different automobiles from GM. You have an array of new smaller models to choose from, ranging from sub-compact models like Chevrolet's new Chevette to the new international­ size Seville from Cadillac. In fact, since 1972-the year before the energy crisis hit-the number of smaller car offerings from GM has more than doubled. What's more, GM has also been in the forefront by offering such things as the catalytic converter, smaller, more efficient engines and space-age electronics for ignitions, fuel injection and service diagnostics. So do yourself a favor. If you've been out of the new-car market for several years, stop by your Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick or Cadillac dealer's soon. And get acquainted with a new world of cars from GM. We want you to drive what you like MARK Of EXCELLENCE and like what you drive. Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 7 making banking better for you ... NATIONAL BANK OF DETROIT Member Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre ,. Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 9 The "better idea"we didn't invent . Copyright•• 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 10 In the sunlmer of '29 Like many men of his genera­ parts for most of the eighty car tion, Wesley had just graduated manufacturers around in 1929. when Wesley Todd III from college, and for a job well TRW has been playing a coaxed Lucy B. Stokes into done his dad gave him a present. part in the evolution of the A Jordan Speedboy. The automobile since 190 I. Going taking a ride in his new Playboy's Motorcar. from our simple beginning in 1 Jordan motorcar, The Jordan symbolized the the U.S., to fourteen major epitome of young romance. automotive nations around the we had a small part in it. Even Jordan advertising satis­ world, supplying parts for al­ ,.. fied happy cravings and vision­ most every automobile being ary ecstasy. made. Of course, all those 1929 Proof enough that, when it Jordan dreams wouldn't have comes to the worldwide auto­ gone far without the automo­ motive market, TRW has a tive parts, from TRW. large part in it. TRW played a part in mak­ TRW Automotive World­ ing the Jordan dream a reality wide, TRW Inc., 23555 Euclid with valves, steering linkage Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44117. and steering gear. Not only for the Jordan, but for the Peerless, TRW the Rollin, the Winton, and the Automotive Worldwide CopyrightPackard. 2010, In Michiganfact, TRW Opera made Theatre 11 WbatlJs in a name? Only the people who stand behind it. Member .'DU~ Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre 12 There's no such thing as too much comfort. 1976 Caprice Classic. 1976.Chevrolet makes room for America. There comes a time when on the instrument panel comfort of having quick starts you think, "I deserve it, and and trim . There's the on nasty mornings, than ks to so does my family. " That's comfort of being blanketed Chevrolet's Efficiency System . the time for Caprice Classic. from outside noises with a All this in a car with room It comes with the kind of special sound in sulation for six and their luggage. fea tures that expensi ve luxury package.