La Favorita Composer Gaetano Donizetti Librettists Alphonse Royer and Gustave Vaëz and Eugène Scribe Based On the play Le comte de Comminges by Baculard d'Arnaud with additions by Eugène Scribe based on the story of Leonora de Guzman Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 1999-2000 Language French Commission Italian translation by F. Jannetti Creative/Crew Conductor Marco Armiliato Production Colin Graham Set Designer(s) John Coyne Costume Designer(s) Jane Greenwood Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Chorus Director Ian Robertson Choreographer Lawrence Pech Musical Preparation Adelle Eslinger John Churchwell Jonathan Khuner Ernest Fredric Knell Svetlana Gorzhevskaya Philip Eisenberg Prompter Philip Eisenberg Supertitles Philip Kuttner Assistant Stage Director(s) Sandra Bernhard Brad Dalton Stage Manager(s) Jerry Sherk Cast Balthazar, abbot of a monastery and representative of the Pope Kevin Langan Fernand, a novice Marcello Giordani Inès, confidante to Léonor Tammy Jenkins Léonor de Guzman, mistress to Alphonse Sonia Ganassi Alphonse XI, King of Castile Vladimir Chernov Don Gaspar, the king's minister Todd Geer Knight Richard Walker Shepherdess Cynthia Drayer(9/24,30) Galina Alexandrova(10/5,10,13,16) Queen Summer Rhatigan Soldier Michael Kruzich King Danny Furlong Show Dates Fri, Sep 24 1999, 8pm Thu, Sep 30 1999, 8pm Tue, Oct 5 1999, 8pm Sun, Oct 10 1999, 2pm Wed, Oct 13 1999, 7:30pm Sat, Oct 16 1999, 8pm Time and Place Spain, about 1340 Scenes Act I, Scene 1 -- The monastery of St. James of Compostela Act I, Scene 2 -- The island of St. Léon INTERMISSION Act II -- The gardens of the Alcazar pa;ace Act III -- The great hall of the palace INTERMISSION Act IV -- The monastery Media Image Marcello Giordani (Fernand), Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Marcello Giordani (Fernand) and Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Marcello Giordani (Fernand), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Marcello Giordani as Fernand Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Ganassi as Léonor de Guzman, the title role of "La Favorite" Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Vladimir Chernov (Alphonse XI), Marcello Giordani (Fernand), Ensemble, La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Vladimir Chernov as Alphonse XI, King of Castile Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), Todd Geer (Don Gaspar), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Ganassi as Léonor, Todd Geer as Don Gaspar Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Image Vladimir Chernov (Alphonse XI), Marcello Giordani (Fernand), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Vladimir Chernov (King Alphonse XI) and Marcello Giordani (Fernand) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera Sponsors The performance of October 5th is designated in honor of Mr. and Mrs. Angus MacNaughton's membership in the Platinum Circle The performance of October 5th is designated in honor of Carol Franc Buck's membership in the Triple Gold Circle The performance of October 10th is sponsored by Shugart Matson Young Marketing Communications Acknowledgements This presentation of "La Favorite" is made possible, in part, by the generous support of Mrs. Gorham B. Knowles Notes New ProductionCritical edition by Rebecca Harris-WarrickThe opening performance of "La Favorite" is dedicated to the memory of Alfredo Kraus, 1927-1999Scenery constructed in San Francisco Opera Scenic StudiosCostumes executed by San Francisco Opera Costume Shop Supernumeraries Darcy Fink Nancy Huie Lisa Lorea Susan Mead Kimberly Thompson David Clover John Giosso Eddy Gordillo Richard Johnson Terry Kildow William Klaproth Donald Lipp Salvatore Lopez Oliver Pollard Rich Vaughn
Image Marcello Giordani (Fernand), Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Marcello Giordani (Fernand) and Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Marcello Giordani (Fernand), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Marcello Giordani as Fernand Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Ganassi as Léonor de Guzman, the title role of "La Favorite" Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Vladimir Chernov (Alphonse XI), Marcello Giordani (Fernand), Ensemble, La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Vladimir Chernov as Alphonse XI, King of Castile Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Sonia Ganassi (Léonor de Guzman), Todd Geer (Don Gaspar), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Ganassi as Léonor, Todd Geer as Don Gaspar Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera
Image Vladimir Chernov (Alphonse XI), Marcello Giordani (Fernand), La Favorite, Gaetano Donizetti. San Francisco Opera, 1999-2000. Photographer: Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera. Vladimir Chernov (King Alphonse XI) and Marcello Giordani (Fernand) Credit Ken Friedman/San Francisco Opera