2001-2002 Season

The Minnesota Opera
The Best of the 2001-2002 Season

As for the previous year's productions I have selected below the "best" photographs from The Minnesota Opera's 2001-2002 Season. All five productions are represented.

(Click on an image to see the full-sized image.)

Gaetano Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor

	Lucia and her companion Alisa anticipating the arrival of her love, Edgardo. Because lighting came from a large surface immediately out of sight below (see the next two photos), and from spots at both sides, this photo required several iterations of the duplicate layer/levels/layer mask process to bring all skin tones to the same tonal value. Compare the original.
	Lucia, having been convinced of Edgardo's unfaithfulness by a forged letter, and having agreed to marry Arturo, is paralyzed by grief at her misfortune.
	Normanno, even at the end unrepentent of his part in the tragedy.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, La Clemenza di Tito

	[Vitellia, daughter of a former Roman emperor deposed by Tito's father, has vowed to accomplish Emperor Tito's assassination rather than see him marry another woman. Sesto (a "pants role") is her intended weapon.] Vitellia: Before the sun sets, I want the worthless man dead; You know he stole a kingdom That heaven gave me as my destiny.
	Servilia: My love. Annio (another "pants role"): Silence, Servilia. It is now a crime To call me thus. Servilia: Why? Annio: Caesar Has chosen you ... as his consort.
	Servilia: Ah! you were the first man That I loved faithfully till now, And you shall be the last That will have a nest in my heart.
	[Sesto is on his way to carry out the plot, whereupon Vitellia learns that Tito has now chosen her to be his consort.] Vitellia: I am coming! Wait! Sesto! Alas! Sesto! Has he gone? Oh my fatal scorn! Oh my insane fury! What anxiety! what torment! Oh God! I freeze with horror.
	Tito: Ah, Sestos! then it is true? Then you wish for my death! ... If you have been able To forget the Emperor Tito, why did you not remember Titus your friend?
	Servilia [to Vitellia], imploring her to go to Sesto's aid: ... That unhappy man Loves you more than himself; he always had your name On his lips; he turned pale whenever You were spoken of. You weep!
	The grand finale: All: Eternal Gods, watch over His sacred life, In him preserve Rome's happiness. Tito: Cut short, eternal Gods, Cut short my life, On that day in which The good of Rome shall not be my care. Panorama of four photographs stitched together.

Giacomo Puccini, La Bohème

	The Bohemians, feigning outrage at Benoit's indiscretions, throw him out. Schaunard and Colline close the door on Benoit amidst peals of laughter.
	The toy-vendor, Parpignol, passes with his cart filled with toys and marionettes, to the delight of several children.
	Colline and Schaunard share a moment of drink and gaiety.
	While the Bohemians (and Mimi) contemplate their good fortune of a paid-up bill, Marcello and Musetta are reunited, and the other celebrants admire a parade of soldiers. Panorama of three images stitched together.
	Mimi appears, cold and ill, seeking Marcello, to seek his help with her difficulties with an ever-jealous, suspicious Rodolfo.
	Musetta, meanwhile, ever the coquette, teases Marcello. Eventually Mimi and Rodolfo reconcile; Musetta and Marcello, meanwhile, part amidst a storm of mutual insults. Mimi and Rodolfo vow to stay together until spring.
	Mimi has died, as yet unbeknownst to others in the room; Musetta still prays for her.

Mark Adamo, Little Women

The sisters (from left to right, Amy, Meg, Jo, and Beth) and Laurie play "truth or dare" in the household attic.

Meg listening enraptured to John Brooke, who is romancing her.

John moves a step closer to winning Meg's heart by the contrivance of returning to her a lost glove.

John and Meg are married, using her parents' vows.

Amy writes of her time in London, where she has fallen under Laurie's spell.

Jo prays for Beth's recovery.

At the opera's end, however, Friedrich reappears, and we know that Jo's life will take its own happier turn as their relationship grows:

Bhaer:	I had a little business in town. Is now the good moment?
[Jo thinks a moment]
Jo:	Now is all there is. [She extends her hand.] Come in.
[Bhaer ascends toward her.]

Giuseppe Verdi, Don Carlos

	The Veil Song, a Moorish tale of a king who seeks to seduce as his mistress a woman who in fact is his veiled wife.
	Thibault, Queen Elisabeth's page, acting out part of the Veil Song.
	Elisabeth's lady-in-waiting, the Countess d'Aremberg, has been banished because she left Elisabeth unattended (and thus able to meet with Carlos); Elisabeth tells her sorrowfully, "You will see France once more. Say farewell to it for me!"
	A heretic condemned by the Inquisition, penitent, is consigned nonetheless to the flames.
	The auto-da-fé: as the heretics burn a Celestial Voice sings: Fly up to the Lord, O poor souls! Come, feel the peace close by the throne of God! Forgiveness!
	The blind Grand Inquisitioner confronts Philippe over the questionable faith and seditious activities of his son, Carlos.

[ Up ] [ 2000-2001 Season ] [ 2001-2002 Season ]