UMS Concert Program, July 12-14, 1985: Ann Arbor Summer '85 Festival --

Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, Ann Arbor, Michigan

inn Arbor
THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
presents
San Francisco Pocket Opera
DONALD PIPPIN Creator and Music Director
"Offenbachanalia"
Music by Jacques Offenbach Performed in Donald Pippin's English Version
with The Pocket Philharmonic
Lydia Mendelssohn Theater, Ann Arbor, Michigan All performances at 8:00, with one intermission
THE BRIDGE OF SIGHS
Friday and Saturday, July 12 and 13, 1985
Fabiano Fabiani Malatrombo............................................Kevin Skiles
Cornarino Cornarini, Doge of Venice..................................Roger Andrews
Baptiste, his Squire.....................................................Eric Morris
Catarina, his Wife . . ..'...................................................Sara Ganz
Amoroso, her Page.................................................Vicki Shaghoian
Leodice, her Confidant...............................................Willa Anderson
Cascadetto, Public Crier............................................Lawrence Venza
Astolfo, a Spy...........................................................Lee Velta
Franrusto, a Spy.....................................................Edward Cohn
Chief of the Council of Ten..........................................Lawrence Venza
Arlequin..........................................................Lawrence Venza
Leandro............................................................Daniel Stanley
Gondoliers ...............................................Ann Bass, Susan Maclean,
Vonna Reuschelle, Laurel Rice
LA VIE PARISIENNE
Sunday, July 14, 1985
Gardefeu, a Parisian Dandv.............................................Eric Morris
Bobinet, his Friend.................................................Lawrence Venza
Metella, an Actress..................................................Susan Maclean
Gontorn, her latest Escort.............................................Daniel Stanley
Vie Baron, from Sweden..................................................Lee Velta
Tlie Baroness..........................................................Laurel Rice
Tlie Brazilian.........................................................Kevin Skiles
Frick, the Bootmaker...................................................Kevin Skiles
Gabrielle, the Glover ....................................................Sara Ganz
Urbain, a Servant ....................................................Edward Cohn
Prosper, a Sen'ant.....................................................Kevin Skiles
Pauline, a Maid..................................................Vonna Reuschelle
Tftree Nieces..............................Willa Anderson, Ann Bass, Vicky Shaghoian
Madame QuimperKaradec ...........................................Roger Andrews
Julie, her Niece....................................................Vicki Shaghoian
These programs are made possible in part by a gram from the National Endowment for the Arts.
Donald Pippin's career has taken him from Zebulin, North Carolina, to Harvard University, to New York City where he was the pianistaccompanist for Balanchine's School for American Ballet, and finally to San Francisco where he has been perform?ing music and writing his opera translations since the 1950s. Audiences have followed him from his start at the hungry i and Opus One in North Beach, through his nineteen years at the Old Spaghetti Factory, and on to larger theaters which can accommodate their growing numbers while maintaining the desired intimate atmosphere.
Looking for additions to the chamber concerts he began presenting in 1954, Pip?pin turned to the chamber operas of Mozart, and in 1968 he presented his first transla?tion -Mozart's oneact opera Bastien and Bastienne. In 1975 he translated his first fulllength opera, Verdi's King for a Day, and today the repertory includes 35 operas. His translations and reorchestrations have been used by companies across the United States, among them the San Diego Opera and Washington Opera of the Kennedy Center. This past spring Donald Pippin -translatortranscribermodemday storyteller -was recognized for his unique and exten?sive contribution to the arts when he re?ceived the San Francisco Chamber of Com?merce BusinessArts Award.
Vte Bridge of Sighs--Ostensibly set in Venice, a zany and tuneful spoof of the oldfashioned melodrama, highly sea?soned with the carnival spirit. ". . a rollicking satire!"
San Francisco Examiner
Prompted by the tremendous success of Pippin's first opera performances in San Francisco's North Beach, members of the audience organized Pocket Opera as a non?profit corporation in 1977. The Company offered its first subscription series in 1978, and by 1979 crowds had grown so large that Pocket Opera was forced to move to larger quarters. After several years in the 150seat Old Spaghetti Factory it now performs to nearcapacity crowds in the 900seat Herbst Theatre.
In 1984 Pocket Opera presented 30 per?formances and 21 different operas in its resi?dent seasons. During the 198586 touring season, this talented troupe will be taking Donald Pippin's delightful operatic versions on the road with funding from the Califor?nia Arts Council and Western States Arts Foundation. The singers are selected from the Bay Area's top artists and include many winners of national and international com?petitions. Pocket Opera's leading singers are also company and chorus members of ma?jor national opera companies, and others perform with the many Bay Area opera and light opera companies.
La Vie Parisienne--K frankly joyous paean to the city, depict?ing tourists and natives alike on a madcap pleasure binge. ". . .more sparkle than in a fireworks spectacular!"
San Francisco Chronicle