Composer George Frideric Handel Librettist Anonymous Based On Silvio Stapiglia's libretto Il Xerse, based on Micolo Minato's Il Xerse Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 2011-2012 Language Italian Creative/Crew Conductor Patrick Summers Production Nicholas Hytner Revival Director Michael Walling Production Designer David Fielding Lighting Designer Paul Pyant Chorus Director Ian Robertson Choreographer Lawrence Pech Fight Choreographer Jonathan Rider Assistant Conductor and Prompter Steven Moore Musical Preparation Jonathan Kelly Lydia Brown Tamara Sankidze Fabrizio Corona Recitative accompaniment Jonathan Kelly Patrick Summers David Kadarauch Michael Leopold Supertitles Francis Rizzo Assistant Stage Director(s) Roy Rallo Stage Manager(s) Darin Burnett Costume Supervisor Christopher Verdosci Production Super Captain Paul Szczesiul Wig and Makeup Designer Gerd Mairandres Cast Xerxes, the King of Persia Susan Graham Arsamenes, his brother David Daniels Ariodates, commander of Xerxes's army Wayne Tigges Romilda, his daughter, in love with Arsamenes Lisette Oropesa Atalanta, her sister, secretly in love with Arsamenes Heidi Stober Amastris, a foreign princess betrothed to Xerxes Sonia Prina Elviro, Arsamenes's servant Michael Sumuel Show Dates Sun, Oct 30 2011, 1:30pm Fri, Nov 4 2011, 7:30pm Tue, Nov 8 2011, 7:30pm Fri, Nov 11 2011, 7:30pm Wed, Nov 16 2011, 7pm Sat, Nov 19 2011, 7:30pm Scenes ACT I Intermission ACT II Intermission ACT III Media Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), Wayne Tigges (Ariodates), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) greets Wayne Tigges (Ariodates). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Heidi Stober (Atalanta), David Daniel (Arsamenes), Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Heidi Stober (Atalanta) attempts to woo David Daniels (Arsamenes) as Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) looks on angrily. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), David Daniels (Arsamenes), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) banishes David Daniels (Arsamenes) because Romilda has chosen to love the king's brother rather than the king himself. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Heidi Stober (Atalanta), Chorus, Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) is taunted by Heidi Stober (Atalanta). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Michael Sumuel (Elviro), Heidi Stober (Atalanta), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Michael Sumuel (Elviro), disguised as a flower-seller, delivers a letter intended for Romilda to Atalanta instead. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) attempts unsuccessfully to woo Lisette Oropesa (Romilda). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), David Daniels (Arsamenes), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) and David Daniels (Arsamenes) proclaim their love for each other. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Image Sonia Prina (Amastris), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Prina (Amastris) is disguised as a male soldier to spy on Xerxes, her betrothed. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera Sponsors This production is made possible, in part, by The Bernard Osher Endowment Fund. Ms. Graham's and Mr. Daniels's appearances made possible by a gift to the Great Singers Fund by Joan and David Traitel. Notes English National Opera production Supernumeraries Katie Heibein Priscilla Lore Kimberly Thompson Carolyn Waugh Peter Bejger Jim Bowes Kyle Brisby Roderick Chow Marcus Christo Philip Cramer Alan Heibein Jason Jeffery Christopher Smith Carlos Suárez Brandon Torres Paul Ziller Carlos Suárez
Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), Wayne Tigges (Ariodates), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) greets Wayne Tigges (Ariodates). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Heidi Stober (Atalanta), David Daniel (Arsamenes), Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Heidi Stober (Atalanta) attempts to woo David Daniels (Arsamenes) as Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) looks on angrily. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), David Daniels (Arsamenes), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) banishes David Daniels (Arsamenes) because Romilda has chosen to love the king's brother rather than the king himself. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Heidi Stober (Atalanta), Chorus, Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) is taunted by Heidi Stober (Atalanta). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Michael Sumuel (Elviro), Heidi Stober (Atalanta), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Michael Sumuel (Elviro), disguised as a flower-seller, delivers a letter intended for Romilda to Atalanta instead. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Susan Graham (Xerxes), Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Susan Graham (Xerxes) attempts unsuccessfully to woo Lisette Oropesa (Romilda). Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Lisette Oropesa (Romilda), David Daniels (Arsamenes), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Lisette Oropesa (Romilda) and David Daniels (Arsamenes) proclaim their love for each other. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera
Image Sonia Prina (Amastris), Xerxes, George Frideric Handel. San Francisco Opera, 2011-12. Photographer: Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera. Sonia Prina (Amastris) is disguised as a male soldier to spy on Xerxes, her betrothed. Credit Cory Weaver/San Francisco Opera