Composer Giuseppe Verdi Librettist Francesco Maria Piave Based On the play "Hernani" by Victor Hugo Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 1984-1985 Language Italian Creative/Crew Conductor Lamberto Gardelli Stage Director(s) Nicolas Joël Designer Nicola Benois Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Chorus Director Richard Bradshaw Musical Preparation Philip Eisenberg Susanna Lemberskaya James Johnson Mark Haffner Prompter Philip Eisenberg Assistant Stage Director(s) Francesca Zambello Stage Manager(s) Gretchen Mueller Cast Ernani, a bandit chief (Don Juan of Aragon) Nunzio Todisco Giuliano Ciannella(9/26) Donna Elvira, Silva's cousin Montserrat Caballé Mary Jane Johnson(9/30) Don Carlo, King of Spain Sherrill Milnes Giovanna, Elvira's nurse Dolora Zajick Don Ruy Gomez de Silva, a grandee of Spain Paul Plishka Don Riccardo, attendant to the King Daniel Harper Iago, attendant to Silva Jacob Will Show Dates Fri, Sep 7 1984, 9pm Wed, Sep 12 1984, 8pm Sat, Sep 15 1984, 8pm Wed, Sep 19 1984, 8pm Sat, Sep 22 1984, 8pm Wed, Sep 26 1984, 7:30pm Sun, Sep 30 1984, 2pm Time and Place 1519; Spain and Germany Scenes Act I -- THE BANDIT Scene 1 -- In the mountains of Aragon Scene 2 -- Elvira's apartments in Silva's castle Act II -- THE GUEST The grand hall of Silva's castle Act III -- CLEMENCY The tomb of Charlemagne at Aachen (Aix-la-Chapelle) Act IV -- THE MASK Ernani's castle in Saragossa Media Image Nunzio Todisco (Ernani), Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Nunzio Todisco in the title role; Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Sherrill Milnes (Don Carlo), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sherrill Milnes as Don Carlo Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Acknowledgements This production is dedicated to the memory of George Quist, San Francisco Opera Board of Directors, 1979-1982 Notes Production settings owned by Dallas Opera, Greater Miami Opera and Lyric Opera of ChicagoCostumes executed by the San Francisco Opera Costume Shop(Nunzio Todisco was a late replacement for the announced Luciano Pavarotti.) Supernumeraries Paisley Knudson Ann Williamson Tony Bua William Colligan Hilbert Duperroir Eugenio Gámez Joseph Hay Richard Hughes Clint Jennings Dean Johnson Jeff Kasmar Lindsay McCall Donald Martin Malcolm Mosher Ted Pappas Tyrone Pardue Patrick Presto Noel Skidmore Robert Squeri Alvin Taylor Rod Williams
Image Nunzio Todisco (Ernani), Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Nunzio Todisco in the title role; Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Sherrill Milnes (Don Carlo), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sherrill Milnes as Don Carlo Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Montserrat Caballé (Donna Elvira), Ernani, Giuseppe Verdi. San Francisco Opera, 1984-85. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Montserrat Caballé as Donna Elvira Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera