Christopher Columbus Composer Darius Milhaud Librettist Paul Claudel Based On Paul Claudel's play Le Livre de Christophe Colomb Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 1992-1993 Language French; English nar. Creative/Crew Conductor Kent Nagano Stage Director(s) Lotfi Mansouri Scenic and Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Projections by Barbara Walters Thomas J. Munn Sound Designer Roger Gans Chorus Director Ian Robertson Musical Preparation Peter Grunberg David Triestram Prompter Peter Grunberg Assistant Stage Director(s) Sandra Bernhard Supertitles Christopher Bergen Stage Manager(s) Theresa Ganley Cast Narrator Derek Jacobi Christopher Columbus I Jean-Philippe Lafont Queen Isabella Maria Fortuna Christopher Columbus II Victor Ledbetter Counsel, Majordomo, Cook, Valet Michel Sénéchal Delegate of Sailors, King of Spain, Commandant, Innkeeper Philip Skinner Messenger Zheng Zhou First Defender, First Guitarist, Young Man Stephen Guggenheim Executioner, Voice from the Mast, First Wise Man Stephen Guggenheim Second Defender and Guitarist, Recruit.Officer, Second Wise Man, Grown Man Earle Patriarco Third Defender and Guitarist, Reception Officer, Officer, Third Wise Man, Ghost of Columbus Scott Wilde Duchess of Medina Sidonia; Soprano Solo Laura Claycomb Mother of Columbus, Alto Solo Catherine Cook Wife of Columbus Mary Mills Show Dates Fri, Dec 11 1992, 8pm Sun, Dec 13 1992, 7pm Time and Place (not specified) Scenes THERE WILL BE ONE INTERMISSION Media Image Stephen Guggenheim (First Wise Man), Philip Skinner (King of Spain), Earle Patriarco (Second Wise Man), Scott Wilde (Third Wise Man), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Philip Skinner as the King of Spain and the Three Wise Men (Stephen Guggenheim, Earle Patriarco, Scott Wilde) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera Image Derek Jacobi (The Narrator), Ensemble, Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. General Scene. The Narrator (Derek Jacobi) is on the far left. Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera Image Stephen Guggenheim (First Guitarist), Earle Patriarco (Second Guitarist), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. The First and Second Guitarist (Stephen Guggenheim, Earle Patriarco) and Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera Image Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Michel Sénéchal (The Cook), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus) and Michel Sénéchal (The Cook) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera Image Maria Fortuna (Queen Isabella), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Maria Fortuna as Queen Isabella Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera Notes Staged concert version Opera in two parts In French, with English narration English translation of narration by Arnold Perry
Image Stephen Guggenheim (First Wise Man), Philip Skinner (King of Spain), Earle Patriarco (Second Wise Man), Scott Wilde (Third Wise Man), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Philip Skinner as the King of Spain and the Three Wise Men (Stephen Guggenheim, Earle Patriarco, Scott Wilde) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera
Image Derek Jacobi (The Narrator), Ensemble, Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. General Scene. The Narrator (Derek Jacobi) is on the far left. Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera
Image Stephen Guggenheim (First Guitarist), Earle Patriarco (Second Guitarist), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. The First and Second Guitarist (Stephen Guggenheim, Earle Patriarco) and Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera
Image Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Michel Sénéchal (The Cook), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus) and Michel Sénéchal (The Cook) Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera
Image Maria Fortuna (Queen Isabella), Jean-Philippe Lafont (Christopher Columbus I), Christophe Colomb, Darius Milhaud. San Francisco Opera, 1992-93. Photographer: Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera. Maria Fortuna as Queen Isabella Credit Larry Merkle/San Francisco Opera