USA Premiere Composer Michael Tippett Librettist Michael Tippett Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 1983-1984 Language English Creative/Crew Conductor David Agler Production John Copley Choreographer Terry Gilbert Designer Robin Don Lighting and Projection Designer Thomas J. Munn Projection Design and Photography Ron Scherl Sound Designer Roger Gans Chorus Director Richard Bradshaw Musical Preparation Susan Webb Mark Haffner Martin Smith Marvin Tartak Prompter Susan Webb Assistant Stage Director(s) Robin Thompson Stage Manager(s) Jerry Sherk Cast Strephon, one of the dancers Jamie Cohen The Ancients, priest and priestess of the temple Kevin Langan Leslie Richards Mark, a young man of unknown parentage Dennis Bailey Jenifer, his betrothed, a young woman Mary Jane Johnson King Fisher, Jenifer's father, a business tycoon Raimund Herincx Bella, King Fisher's secretary Sheri Greenawald Jack, Bella's boyfriend, a mechanic Ryland Davies Half-tipsy Man Mark Coles Dancing man Sigmund Seigel Sosostris, a clairvoyante Sheila Nadler Dancer(s) (see notes) Show Dates Sat, Oct 15 1983, 8pm Wed, Oct 19 1983, 8pm Sun, Oct 23 1983, 2pm Wed, Oct 26 1983, 7:30pm Sat, Oct 29 1983, 8pm Tue, Nov 1 1983, 8pm Time and Place The present Scenes Act I -- Morning Act II -- Afternoon Act III -- Evening and Night Media Image Raimund Herincx (King Fisher), Ballet, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Raimund Herincx (King Fisher, foreground) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Act III, Ensemble, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Act III Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Dennis Bailey (Mark), Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer), Chorus, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Dennis Bailey (Mark) and Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer), Ballet, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer, center) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Sheri Greenawald (Bella), Raimund Herincx (King Fisher), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheri Greenawald (Bella) and Raimund Herincx (King Fisher) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Sheila Nadler (Sosostris), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheila Nadler (Sosostris) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Image Sheri Greenawald (Bella), Ryland Davies (Jack), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheri Greenawald (Bella) and Ryland Davies (Jack) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera Acknowledgements This new production made possible through the generosity of the Paul L. and Phyllis Wattis Foundation. Notes US PREMIERE / UNITED STATES PREMIERE First performance: Covent Garden, 1955. --------------------- Scenery constructed in San Francisco Opera Scenic Studios Costumes executed by San Francisco Opera Costume Shop The director wishes to acknowledge the help of Miss Adrienne Corri in preparing this production. DANCERSLisa BrodskyAnne Elizabeth Egan (Hawk)Amy LaszloSarah Gale Oppenheimer (Otter)Kathryn Roszak (Hound)Elaine WadsworthPeter ChildersGregory GonzalesTom HillyardGregory LaraKarstyn McCoyDennis McDonald Supernumeraries Mark Bathke Rick Brandon Rudy Cook Don Correira Gordon Crespo Paul Grosvenor Joseph Hay Donald Martin Berri McBride Rodney McCoy John Michael Paul Newman Kevon Oxley Peter Phinney Kevin Scarlata Ned Schmanski Chris Sheffield Rick Skarolid Ray Souza Scott Swanson Richard Weil Patrick Weyers Joseph Willis
Image Raimund Herincx (King Fisher), Ballet, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Raimund Herincx (King Fisher, foreground) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Act III, Ensemble, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Act III Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Dennis Bailey (Mark), Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer), Chorus, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Dennis Bailey (Mark) and Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer), Ballet, The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Mary Jane Johnson (Jenifer, center) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Sheri Greenawald (Bella), Raimund Herincx (King Fisher), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheri Greenawald (Bella) and Raimund Herincx (King Fisher) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Sheila Nadler (Sosostris), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheila Nadler (Sosostris) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera
Image Sheri Greenawald (Bella), Ryland Davies (Jack), The Midsummer Marriage, Sir Michael Tippett. San Francisco Opera, 1983-84. Photographer: Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera. Sheri Greenawald (Bella) and Ryland Davies (Jack) Credit Ron Scherl/San Francisco Opera