Wolf Trap Opera

Donizetti came to The Barns in August 1982, in an English version of L’aio nell’imbarazzo.

Conducted by WTOC Music Director Ricard Woitach and directed by Robert Darling, this production included a young mezzo named Jennifer Larmore in the role of Leonarda.

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Beverly Sills returned in July 1975 for a memorable performance of one of her Donizetti Queen roles: Elizabeth in Roberto Devereux. Her castmates included John Alexander, John Lankston, and Susanne Marsee. And, as was the WTC custom at the Filene Center in 1975, young artists sang supporting and chorus roles. Julius Rudel conducted, and Tito Capobianco directed.

As was the case with the Daughter of the Regiment the previous summer, Roberto Devereux was happily recorded for posterity and is still available for purchase.

Our files are severely lacking for this production. A few production photos will have to do for now.

If you’ve stumbled across anything about the early days of the Wolf Trap Company, it’s probably the DVD of this production.

Starring Beverly Sills as Marie, Spiro Malas as Sulpice, and William McDonald as Tonio, and directed by Lotfi Mansouri, this Daughter was a landmark achievement for the our organization. It even got a review in Time magazine.

The chorus, as was our custom in the 1970′s, was formed from the young artist program. It included 35 aspiring singers, including Rockwell Blake, Donnie Ray Albert, Janice Hall, and Judith Christin.

Andrew Foldi, Theodor Uppmann, William McDonald and Ruth Welting were featured in Wolf Trap Company’s 1973 Don Pasquale. Young artists included the late Melvin Lowery as the Notary. Recent trends have forced Filene Center repertoire into a top-ten corner… I have to say I’m a bit jealous about the range of rep the Company did in these early days!

Still on the lookout for photos and other information about these early-1970′s productions – shoot us an email if you know of any leads. wtoc@wolftrap.org