During the previous summer, the Company mounted its first production at the nearby Madeira School (a double bill of Pasatieri’s Calvary & Signor Deluso). This collaboration continued in 1975 with Britten’s Albert Herring. The four performances were double-cast, and the Wolf Trap Company young artists handled all roles. Sadly, there don’t seem to be any
Read MorePosts Categorized: Blog
WTC 1975: The Crucible
The August 1975 performances of Robert Ward’s The Crucible at the Filene Center didn’t rely as heavily on the presence of guest stars as did the summer’s two previous productions (Kismet and Roberto Devereux). Four roles were taken by visiting professional artists (with asterisk below), but this production was largely driven by members of the
Read MoreWTC 1975: Roberto Devereux
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
Read MoreWTC 1975: Kismet
The previous season was strictly operatic, but in 1975, the Wolf Trap Company turned again to musical theatre. Kismet featured guest artists John Reardon, Jane Johnston and Richard Bauer, and the young artists of the Company filled out the supporting roles and ensembles. John Conklin was scenic designer. This production included the Wolf Trap stage
Read MoreWolf Trap Company 1974: Overview
The 1974 season seems to have been a landmark in two very different ways. First, the productions of Daughter of the Regiment and War and Peace at the Filene Center brought national attention to opera at Wolf Trap. Big name casts and the subsequent video release of Daughter shone a new light on our organization.
Read MoreWTC 1974: Calvary & Signor Deluso
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
Read MoreWTC 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 More