This double bill was the first WTC production away from the Filene Center. A single performance was held in the chapel/auditorium on the campus of The Madeira School. The Wolf Trap Company was closely linked to Madeira in those early years – young artists were housed and fed there, and rehearsals were held in their
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WTC 1974: War and Peace
Sarah Caldwell produced and conducted the epic August 1974 production of Prokofiev’s War and Peace. Maestra Caldwell was profiled shortly afterward in Time, and the combination of this production and the previous month’s Daughter of the Regiment must’ve made the Filene Center an incredibly exciting place in the summer of 1974. The cast included John
Read MoreWTC 1974: The Daughter of the Regiment
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
Read MoreWolf Trap Company 1973: Overview
The young artist roster of 1973 included 44 singers, quite a few of whom went on to craft careers in the performing arts. In addition to those mentioned in the individual posts dedicated to 1973 season productions (Most Happy Fella, Saint of Bleecker Street, and Don Pasquale), opera lovers will doubtless be familiar with John
Read MoreWTC 1973: Don Pasquale
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
Read MoreWTC 1973: The Saint of Bleecker Street
The 1973 production of Menotti’s Saint of Bleecker Street featured a gentleman who was to become an important force behind the developing Wolf Trap Company: Francis Rizzo (director). This production also featured the professional opera conducting debut of a young man named John Mauceri. The cast also included young artists Ron Raines (yes, Guiding Light
Read MoreWTC 1973: The Most Happy Fella
Featured roles in the July 1973 Wolf Trap Company’s production of Frank Loesser’s The Most Happy Fella were sung by guest artists including William Chapman, Jerry Lanning, Rita Gardner, Pamela Myers, James Tushar and Muriel Greenspon. Anton Coppola conducted. Young artists sang supporting and ensemble roles, including Chris Merritt as Jake and Neil Rosenshein as
Read MoreWolf Trap Company 1972: Overview
The second year of the Company featured four full-length productions: The King and I (with guest artist Roberta Peters), Roméo et Juliette, Treemonisha, and The Marriage of Figaro (with guest artists including Phyllis Curtin, Norman Treigle and John Fiorito). The Company comprised 49 singers and 23 dancers. In addition, WTC singers performed with the National
Read MoreWTC 1972: Roméo et Juliette
The summer of 1972 featured three full-length productions from the Wolf Trap Company. Romeo et Juliette was performed at the Filene Center on August 1, 3 & 5. Guest artists were joined by Company members in supporting roles and chorus in three performances conducted by Anton Guadagno.
Read MoreWTC 1972: The King and I
The Wolf Trap Company’s first full-length production took place in July 1972 at the Filene Center. Guest artist Roberta Peters was the headliner in The King and I. Young artists in the company sang supporting roles and formed the ensemble – the default configuration for many of the Company’s productions in the 1970’s.
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