John Hall - Musical Theater and Opera Archive

Synopsis

The action takes place in Naples.

Act I

Don Alfonso, a cynical old philosopher, declares to his young friends Ferrando and Guglielmo that no women can be trusted, including their respective fiancées, the sisters Dorabella and Fiordiligi. Enraged at this slur, they accept his offer to wager 100 sovereigns that he can prove his point in twenty-four hours if they will agree to follow his instructions unquestioningly. Don Alfonso then announces to the two sisters that their sweethearts have been ordered off to the wars. There is a touching scene of farewell and the two officers ostensibly sail off, to the cheers of the servants. Despina, maid to the sisters, finds them prostrated by their loss and pooh-poohs their lamentations, saying that one man is pretty much like another. To further his scheme Don Alfonso enlists Despina’s aid and introduces to her two young and wealthy “Albanians” who are enamored of her mistresses. She does not recognize Ferrando and Guglielmo in their disguise and supports their suit. Fiordiligi and Dorabella are outraged at this intrusion upon their sorrow and angrily order the two foreigners to leave. When the young men pretend to take poison in their despair, the sisters relent somewhat. Despina appears in the disguise of a doctor and revives the “Albanians” by means of a huge magnet. They renew their ardent attack on the young ladies’ affections but are again repulsed.

Act II

After Despina derides their constancy, the sisters, especially Dorabella, weaken and decide a flirtation will do no harm. Dorabella chooses Guglielmo and Fiordiligi Ferrando. As the couples stroll in the garden Guglielmo wins Dorabella’s love and gives her a locket in return for a picture of Ferrando. Fiordiligi, however, refuses to yield to Ferrando and decides to disguise herself as a man and join her betrothed at the front. But when Ferrando threatens to slay himself, she too gives in. Both Guglielmo and Ferrando are now utterly cast down by the clear evidence of their sweethearts’ fickleness; but the triumphant Don Alfonso promises them that he will fix everything. He arranges a ceremony in which Ferrando is to marry Fiordiligi and her sister Guglielmo. In the midst of the ceremony, which is conducted Despina in the guise of a notary, the military music to which the two officers marched off to war is heard again and it is announced that stage and come back without their disguises, explaining that they had received royal permission to return to the arms of their loved ones. The officers pretend to fly into a rage when they find the marriage contract, the sisters blame Don Alfonso and Despina for leading them astray, their lovers reveal that they were the “Albanians,” Guglielmo returns Ferrando’s picture to Dorabella and gets his locket back, the sisters are properly chastened, and all ends happily.

Biographies

Nicole Baker
Graduating in June with her M.F.A. in vocal performance, soprano Nicole Baker studies with Kari Windingstad. Previous roles with the Opera Theater include performances in Hindemith’s “Hin und Zurück,” “Gianni Schicchi” by Puccini, and the premiere of Mangold’s “Bleah!” A two time winner of the Gladys Turk Foundation Award, Miss Baker is the teaching assistant for Women’s Chorus. Her career at UCLA represents a drastic change from her undergraduate days at Wellesley College where she majored in Political Science. But as she prepares for her final recital in May, she is certain she made the right choice.

Sarah Blaze
Soprano Sarah Blaze is a junior music major from Santa Rosa. While at UCLA she has sung with the UCLA Chamber Singers and participated in master classes with Martial Singher and Horst Günther. Her Opera Theater debut was in Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi”; she has also performed in Mozart’s “Impresario” and “Signor Deluso” by Pasatieri. Studying with Kari Windingstad, she was a finalist in the Young Artists of the Future Contest in 1986 and the winner of the 1985 Gladys Turk Award. Her junior recital is scheduled in April.

Jeff Calof
Bass Jeff Calof made his UCLA Opera Theater debut as the Sergeant in “La Bohemé.” Since that time he has appeared in “Gianni Schicchi” also by Puccini. Studying voice with Timothy Mussard, Jeff has been a member of the UCLA Men’s Glee Club and Chamber Singers. He recently performed Fiorello in Rossini’s “Il barbiere di Siviglia” with the Cal State L.A. Opera Workshop.

Sung Hwan Cho
A new M.F.A. student in vocal performance, Sung Hwan Cho is a native of Seoul, Korea. He began singing at an early age with the World Vision Children’s Choir. Later, he graduated from Seoul National School of Music. Presently studying voice with John Guarnieri, his operatic debut was the role of Léon in Pasatieri’s “Signor Deluso” presented here last fall.

Cynthia Clayton
Recent winner of the 1987 Atwater Kent Award in Vocal Performance at UCLA, senior soprano Cynthia Clayton made her Opera Theater debut in last year’s production of Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi.” This season she sang Clara in Thomas Pasatieri’s “Signor Deluso.” In addition to her participation in Opera Workshop, Cynthia has sung with A Cappella Choir and the UCLA Chamber Singers. A student of Kari Windingstad, she will give her senior recital in May.

Kathleen Conner
Kathleen Conner received the 1986 Gladys Turk Award and was second place winner in that year’s Atwater Kent Contest. Previously attending Cal Arts, where she performed in Haydn’s “L’Infedelta Delusa” and “The Medium” by Menotti, she then went to USC to perform Cunegonde in Bernstein’s “Candide.” Presently a student of Dorothy Warenskjold, her UCLA debut was Lauretta in “Gianni Schicchi.” She also performed in the premiere of Mangold’s opera “Bleah!” with our workshop last fall.

John Gillott
Originally from Augusta, Georgia, John Gillott won first prize in that state’s National Association of Teachers of Singing competition. At UCLA he has received the Steve Lawrence and Edie Gormé scholarship and was second prize winner in this year’s Atwater Kent Awards. A junior at UCLA where he studies with Mary Rawcliffe, John has performed the Counsel in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “Trial by Jury” with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop as well as the title role in Pasatieri’s “Signor Deluso” with our Opera Workshop last fall.

Charles Lucas
The chorus of “La Bohemé” was bass baritone Charles Lucas’ first appearance with the UCLA Opera Theater. Since then he has performed leading roles in “Imeneo” by Handel, Puccini’s “Gianni Schicchi,” Pasatieri’s “Signor Deluso” and “Bleah!” by Martin Mangold. He was also in “Most Happy Fella” last year with the UCLA Theater Arts Department. This year he was in the chorus again, but in the Los Angeles Music Center Opera production of “Otello.” He and his teacher, Kari Windingstad, are planning his senior recital in May.

Christian Nova
After receiving his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at Pomona College, Christian Nova decided to change career choices and study music. He went to Peabody Conservatory and studied voice with Flore Wendt; however, when she retired he decided to return to California for further study. Examining schools in Southern California he attended UCLA’s production of “La Bohème” and decided our M.F.A. program in music was right for him; enrolling this fall, Christian began studying with Timothy Mussard. He made his Opera Theater debut in “Bleah!” by Martin Mangold and appeared in two revues with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop. His previous stage experience includes leading roles in “Carousel” and Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.”

Peter Reilly
Peter Reilly is a first-year M.F.A. student in vocal performance. Receiving his B.A. here last year, Peter has already won many departmental awards including the 1984 Atwater Kent, the 1985 Sigma Alpha Iota Award, and this year’s Gladys Turk Foundation Award. A former member of the UCLA Chamber Singers, Mr. Reilly is now Assistant Conductor for that group. After “Così fan tutte,” he and his teacher, Timothy Mussard, turn their attention to his first M.F.A. recital scheduled in May. His opera theater debut was in last year’s production of “Gianni Schicchi” by Puccini.

Adelaide Sinclair
Mezzo-soprano Adelaide Sinclair hails from Riverside, California. A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Utah, she has also done graduate work at USC. She is twice winner of the Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions and is a three time award winner in the Opera Guild of Southern California competition where she received a Gladys Turk Foundation Award to study opera at UCLA this year. A 1985 apprentice artist to Santa Fe Opera, Adelaide has performed roles in operas by Verdi, Rossini, Bizet, and Massenet. Currently studying voice with Nina Hinson, she also has performed extensively in oratorio and concert. Her UCLA Opera Theater debut was in last fall’s production of Martin Mangold’s “Bleah!” where she created the role of the judge.

Aimee Willis
Winner of the 1985 Southern California Vocal Association competition, soprano Aimee Willis is a second-year at student UCLA where she received the Steve Lawrence-Edie Gormé scholarship. A student of Timothy Mussard, she appeared with the UCLA Music Theater Workshop as the Plaintiff in last year’s production of “Trial by Jury” by Gilbert and Sullivan and performed by Rosabella in the UCLA Theater Arts production of “Most Happy Fella.” Other roles include Laurie in “Oklahoma,” Julie in “Carousel,” and “La Perichole.”

Così fan tutte - 1987

Synopsis

Cast

Orchestra

Biographies

Credits

UCLA Voice Faculty

UCLA Opera Theater

Photographs