Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre UNTIL NOW, SOME THOUGHT THE BEST PERFORMERS CAME FROM ABROAD. CHANGE The Cadillac Seville STS with the Northstar System. With its 295-horsepower, 32-valve V8 and Road-Sensing IS CENTER Suspension, this luxury sports sedan is winning over the toughest audiences. CADILLAC SEVILLE STS. STAGE CHANGING THE WAY YOU THINK ABOUT AMERICAN AUTOMOBILES. 'II BuekleUpAmeri<al e l992 GM Carp. All R' .. Reserved. ~;..._ • CADILLAC. SEVILlt NORTHSTAR. NORTHSTAR SYSTEM: 295-HP V8 • SPEED-SENSITIVE STEERING · TRACTION CONTROL · PLUS DUAL AIR BAGS , PLEASE CALL 1-800-333-4CAD Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre A MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL DIREaOR Dear Friends, It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to Michigan Opera Theatre's 22nd season! Perhaps one of our most popular ever in terms of repertory, it features the renowned artists and emerging operatic talent you have come to expect from Michigan Opera Theatre. Looking back on the success of the 1991/92 season, I am sure you share with me the pride at having been a part of the company's Midwestern premiere performances of Karol Szymanowski's King Roger and with the company premieres of Samson and Delilah and Candide, plus the critically acclaimed productions of Lucia di Lammermoor and The Mikado. This season boa:sts its own set of company premieres: from Side by Side by Sondheim, a revue of the award winning music and lyrics of ~roadway's reigning king, and Detroit's first professional production in 30 years of The Music Man, to the season finale, our very own producti~n of the grand classical ballet The Sleeping Beauty. In the spring, grand opera returns to the stage of the Masonic Temple with perhaps the world's most beloved opera, Puccini's tale of life and love among the bohemians of Paris' 19th century Latin Quarter, La Boheme. Two casts of rising young operatic talent will interpret Puccini's passionate score. In 1985, Michigan Opera Theatre presented its first production of Verdi's immortal Aida, starring Leona Mitchell in her first United States performances in the title role. Miss Mitchell will return to the Masonic Temple in May to reinterpret the role she has performed in the world's greatest opera houses, and she will be joined by two stellar casts of outstanding international artists. Most significantly, this season of grand opera, classic American musical theatre and grand classical ballet reflects a microcosm of the expanded programming we will be presenting once the Detroit Opera House project is completed and the company moves into its permanent home. Finally, I wish to thank the many corporations, foundations , government agencie~ and private individuals who have supported the company's extensive activities, from main stage productions to our vitally important educational and outreach programs throughout the State. Without your generosity, none of our successes would have been possible and our future would indeed be uncertain. Whether this is your first visit or 22nd season with us, you are a very important part of this performance today, and I hope you enjoy your experience at the opera. Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre Ticket Infonnation Michigan Opera Theatre Ticket Services Office, 6519 Second Avenue. Detroit, Michigan 48202; open 10 a.m. 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, noon· 5 p.m. Sunday. On pertormance days after 6 p.m., visit the theatres' box offices. MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE Phone (31 3) 874·7464 10 A.M. · 6 p.m. Monday· DAVID DICHIERA, GENERAL DIRECTOR Friday, noon · 5 p.m. Sunday. Open Saturdays in season, phone for hours. Tickets are also available at all TicketMaster outlets or by calling (313) 645-6666. 1992/93 Se,ason Fall Program Book Editor: Rebecca Happel Unused Tickets: Subscribers unable to use their tickets may make CONTENTS Editorial Assistant: a tax·deductible contribution to Michigan Opera Donna Rogers Theatre by retuming the unused tickets to the Message from the General Director ..... 1 MOT Ticket Services Office for resale at least History of th e Company . .. 3 24 hours prior to pertormance call , 31 31874·7464. Art Direction and Board of Directors and Trustees . ..4 Exchange Policy; 1991-92 Season in Review. .. 9 Production: Exchanges will be made on a space available Detroit Opera House. .. ... ...... .. .. 10 Lorene Cosenza baSiS, lor season subscribers only, to another Administration and Producti on Staff ... 12 Karen Cameron pertonmance of the same opera. Exchange must Barbara Porter be made 24 hours prior to you r pertormance time. of Simons Michelson Zieve MOT Opera Boutique: The MOT Opera Boutique, featuring an array of Side by Side by Sondheim opera· related gift items, is open before curtain and Advertising Sales: during intermissions of each pertormance at the Rachel Lent Cast and Credits .... ......... .17 Fisher and Masonic Temple Theatres. of Eagle Publishing Co. Food Service: The Fisher Theatre: Concession stands inside the Musical Numbers .. ....... .. .... 17 Advertising Coordinator: theatre are open when theatre doors open and Christine Donaldson during intenmissions. Simultaneously, wine, beer and soft drinks are available for sale in the Fisher Program Notes ........ ..... .. .. ... ..1 8 Building lobby. Masonic Temple Theatre: The Printer: Fountain Ballroom on the lower level is open one Lou Fox of Gaylord Printing hour prior to curtain time for hot buffet service. Patrons arriving before the theatre doors open should enter lhe outer main lobby and follow the The Music'Man Cover Illustration: signs. Refreshments are available in the Ballroom John Martin of Art Staff du ri ng intermissions of all pertonmances. Cast and Credits .... ...... .. ..... .2o Pre-perfonnance DinnerslLectures: MOT provides lively lectures accompanied by Musical Numbers ...... .. .. ......20 luncheons or buffet dinners prior to Wednesday subscription pertonmances of each production. Free lectures one hour before curtain are also Program Notes .. .... .... ... .. ......2 1 The 1992193 Twenty-second Season, available on some pertonmance nights. Fall Program Book, Michigan Opera For infonmation on dates and times , please call Theatre, 6519 Second Avenue, the MOT Lecture Hotline: 31 31874-7850. Young Artists Apprentice Program .. .. 23 Detroit Michigan 48202; Special Provisions for the Orchestra and Chorus .... .... ...... ........ 23 31 3/874-7850 Physically Challenged: The Fall 1992 Arti sts of the Company .24 Please call the MOT Ticket Services Office Fax 313/871-721 3 Frank Donovan Memorial Tri bute .... ....26 for specific information. (313) 874-7464. Community Programs. .... 27 Lost and Found: Michigan Opera Theatre is supported Guil d and Volunteers ... ..... 28 For lost and found information at the Fisher in part by grants from the National Contributors ........ .. .. .... .36 Theatre and Masonic Temple, see the head usher. Endowment for the Arts Please Note: No cameras or recording devices are premiHed in the theatres. Patrons are reminded to please a federal agency, and from the State check that their digital watch alarms are switched OFF before the pertormance begins. of Michigan through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Important Phone Numbers: Subscriber Ticket Hotl ine: (313) 874·7831 Ticket Office: 874·7464 Admi nistration: 874·7850 Michigan Opera Theatre is an equal General Directors Circle Info: 874·7877 opportunity employer. Group Ticket Discounts for parties of ten or more: 874·7894 MOT's Speaker's Bureau for guest lecturers at your event: 874-7850 MOT's The 1992/93 Michigan Opera Theatre Communtiy Programs for entertainment at your Season is presented in cooperati on event: 874·7894 TDD with cl assical radio station Voice 874·7878 Fax 871·7213 WQRS, FM 105. Emergency Phone Numbers During Perfonnances: Fisher Theatre: (313) 872·4221 Masonic Temple Theatre: (313) 832·5500 Michigan Opera Theatre is a member of OPERA America Michigan Opera Theatre Administrative Office : 6519 Second Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48202 Copyright 2010, Michigan Opera Theatre MICHIGAN OPERA THEATRE ABRIEF HISTORY Michigan Opera Theatre (MOT), cited by the Detroit media Maria Ewing, Leona Mitchell, as "one of the city's three cultural jewels," is the State of Michigan Opera Theatre has Carmen Balthrop, Wilhelmenia Michigan's premier opera company serving as a state-wide gained further national esteem Fernandez, Vinson Cole, Andrew with David DiChiera's additional cultural resource committed to producing the very best professional productions from the grand opera, operetta, Smith and conductor Willie appointments as the artistic and musical theatre repertory. The company now Waters. The spirit of this director of the successful Dayton opportunity is kept alive Opera in Ohio, and as the augments its season with presentations of grand classical armually with the Young Artists general director of the multi­ ballet. Founded and directed by internationally recognized Apprentice Program, which offers million dollar Opera Pacific impresario David DiChiera, MOT has quickly ascended nationally recruited singers and located in California's Orange the ranks of its more than 100 peer companies to assume o production personnel County. This relationship among the prestigious position as one of the nation's leading performance and career all three companies has proven opera companies. opportunities. to be a successful means of cost­ effective co-productions of lavish, Within its 22 year history, MOT has offered the Detroit During its first 15 years, MOT new main stage productions and community outstanding main