merola grand finale [scenes]
[08/2013]
conductor | JOHN DEMAIN
orchestra | SAN FRANCISCO OPERA
lighting designer | JUSTIN PARTIER
photographer | KRISTEN LOKEN
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The opening image of the Merola Grand Finale was a layered tableau of the singers in poses from each of the scenes that would follow during the evening.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/6ttFaEKMWJtg1r8tdZMRpC;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Max (Casey Finnigan) sings of his love for Agathe in "Durch die Wälder" from Weber's DER FREISCHÜTZ.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/jDHybJcDWfjeSPS5Y8fTFz;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Ortrud (Daryl Freedman) casts a spell on Elsa in "Elsa! Wo bist du?" from Wagner's LOHENGRIN.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2s4LfLa8TaXca0z2JAYQ8z;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Ariodante (Rhys Lloyd Talbot) celebrates his daughter's wedding in "Voli colla sua tromba" from Handel's ARIODANTE.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bLF9RM4DrgPdgVBv63mKun;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Dido (Katie Hannigan) laments to Belinda (Sahar Nouri) in Purcell's DIDO AND AENEAS...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/50OMaD5EUULdcsRDwoYFCm;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...ultimately committing suicide.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/6fTHVUqQvcyd5ijSNTFcbn;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Erica (Rihab Chaieb) wanders weeping in the wood...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/1eAJZRAX1Ioc3siqpsBk6l;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...as Vanessa (Linda Barnett) waits for Anatol's arrival...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/kPh0Yo1GBNmfbBRkho1c1F;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...and finally meets him (or rather, his son) in Barber's VANESSA.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bf8eylzB7GpbfrTjHpk5uk;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Fauno (Alisa Jordheim) unites two unlikely lovers...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/6MnKwPYOo0tcr0sBRTSk8L;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
...in "Dal tuo gentil sembiante" from Mozart's ASCANIO IN ALBA.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/khVPBI9o3Wwb3bnZl0faIu;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Fritz (Chris Carr) sings longingly of love in "Mein Sehnen" from Korngold's DIE TOTE STADT.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/981cJGyNQ7RcLDCqhsrGXS;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Manon (Maria Valdes) is courted by des Grieux (Pene Pati) in the Act One finale of Massenet's MANON.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/4J9kLhXAFyQc3GJvf0qAGy;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
Vere (Robert Watson) lays down the laws of the sea to Claggart (Thomas Richards) and Billy Budd (Alex DeSocio) in the Act Two opening of Britten's BILLY BUDD.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/bBRoDwA9OnRdmchsEWH0vl;944x630.jpeg?auto=webp)
Lauretta (Jacqueline Piccolino) asks for her father's blessing in "O mio babbino caro" from Puccini's GIANNI SCHICCHI.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7AtjwAmQ8XmdudRf0y0lbO;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
Ulisse (Joseph Lattanzi) awakens, shipwrecked on the shore of his homeland...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/7TjIJtmaPIDgnxYsUZIulH;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...only to discover that the Gods have not punished those responsible.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/2fRdivWmRPbcXrvx2KkAI4;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
He plans his revenge on the Faeci...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/9BlfZIaO67GdtHtSX6vIiW;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
...in "Dorme ancora?" from Monteverdi's IL RITORNO D'ULISSE IN PATRIA.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/cih4w9cIhMBeu2ti7245Wn;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Magnifico (John Arnold) seduces Dandini (Efrain Solis) in "Un segreta d'importanza" from Rossini's LA CENERENTOLA.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/fAgzGwYaPcsbgwWsN6pwDk;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Sapho (Zanda Svede) says goodbye to love and life...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/cHw0Ly7LSwNf5rMNZqHUUL;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
... in "O my lyre immortelle" from Gounod's SAPHO.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/ljQOaskLoSib34Kh2x7ix2;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
Lohengrin (Issachah Savage) says farewell to Elsa (Aviva Fortunata)...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/hs3fHx5Ha06fAPMk9BKUXV;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...in "Mein lieber Schwan" from Wagner's LOHENGRIN.
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Procida (David Weigel) is stunned by the beauty of his homeland in "E tu, Palermo" from Verdi's I VESPRI SICILIANI.
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Hélène (Kate Allen) and Paris (Matthew Newlin) seduce one another...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/4d0YbRzs8IiftCxwMzZNjY;944x1414.jpeg?auto=webp)
...using the excuse of it being nothing more than fantasy...
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/4Ku5xUKikNbdxpHz6pJuB6;582x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
...in "Oui, c'est un rêve" from Offenbach's LA BELLE HELENE.
![](https://carbon-media.accelerator.net/00000009c7b/5tG5OahdR4dg0WSLcFDioz;1308x872.jpeg?auto=webp)
The 2013 Merola Opera Program Apprentice Singers and Coaches look to the future in the evening's finale: "Make our garden grow" from Bernstein's CANDIDE.