Composer Ambroise Thomas Librettists Jules Barbier and Michel Carré Based On Shakespeare's play Company San Francisco Opera Association Venue Orpheum Theatre Season 1996-1997 Language French Creative/Crew Conductor Yves Abel Production Colin Graham Set Designer(s) Gerard Howland Costume Designer(s) Robert Perdziola Lighting Designer Peter Kaczorowski Chorus Director Ian Robertson Musical Preparation Joyce Fieldsend Philip Eisenberg Adelle Eslinger Peter Grunberg Jonathan Khuner Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Supertitles Colin Graham Assistant Stage Director(s) Sandra Bernhard Stage Manager(s) Theresa Ganley Movement Assistant Victoria Morgan Fight Consultant Larry Henderson Cast Claudius, King of Denmark Robert Lloyd Queen Gertrude Judith Forst Hamlet, son of the former King of Denmark and Queen Gertrude Thomas Hampson Ophélie Ruth Ann Swenson Laërte, her brother Benoît Boutet Daniel Hendrick(9/14,19,29) Horatio John Robert Autry Marcellus Stuart Skelton Ghost of Hamlet's father Kevin Langan Polonius, Court Chamberlain John Relyea First Gravedigger Bojan Knežević Second Gravedigger Daniel Harper Show Dates Thu, Sep 12 1996, 7:30pm Sat, Sep 14 1996, 7:30pm Tue, Sep 17 1996, 7:30pm Thu, Sep 19 1996, 7:30pm Sun, Sep 22 1996, 1:30pm Tue, Sep 24 1996, 7:30pm Fri, Sep 27 1996, 7:30pm Sun, Sep 29 1996, 1:30pm Time and Place Elsinore, Denmark Scenes Act I, Scene 1 -- The castle in Elsinore Act I, Scene 2 -- The castle ramparts Act II, Scene 1 -- The castle gardens Act II, Scene 2 -- The great hall in the castle INTERMISSION Act III -- The royal apartments Act IV -- The gardens; the edge of a lake Act V -- The cemetery at Elsinore Media Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson in the title role Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Ophélie), John Autry (Horatio), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson (Ophélie) and John Autry (Horatio) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson (Hamlet) and Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude, his mother) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Robert Lloyd (King Claudius), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Thomas Hampson (Hamlet) and Robert Lloyd (King Claudius) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Ensemble, Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. General scene at the court, Act I Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Ensemble, Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. The court at Elsinore during the fateful play-within-the-play Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson as Hamlet Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Sponsors The performance of September 17th is designated in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Jeffery Meyer's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. Acknowledgements This production is made possible by a generous grant from the Carol Franc Buck Foundation. Notes Scenery constructed in San Francisco Opera Scenic StudiosCostumes executed by San Francisco Opera Costume ShopACROBAT -- Kelly Toomey Supernumeraries Regina Bustillos Andrea Kohlruss Susan Mead Kimberly Thompson Mimi Timberlake Mattia Cabitza Eddy Gordillo Larry Hunnicutt Christopher Patnoe Oliver Pollard Louis Schaub Jim Shields
Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson in the title role Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Ruth Ann Swenson (Ophélie), John Autry (Horatio), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Ruth Ann Swenson (Ophélie) and John Autry (Horatio) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson (Hamlet) and Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude, his mother) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Robert Lloyd (King Claudius), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Judith Forst (Queen Gertrude), Thomas Hampson (Hamlet) and Robert Lloyd (King Claudius) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Ensemble, Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. General scene at the court, Act I Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Ensemble, Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. The court at Elsinore during the fateful play-within-the-play Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Thomas Hampson (Hamlet), Hamlet, Ambroise Thomas. San Francisco Opera, 1996-97. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Thomas Hampson as Hamlet Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera