SAN FRANCISCO OPERA COMPANY GAETANO MEROLA GENERAL DIRECTOR NINETEENTH ANNUAL SEASON FIRST ANNUAL PORTLAND SEASON OCTOBER 2 - 3 - 4 , 1941 MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM In San Francisco - The visit you'll never forget The world's most famous collection of jades — ancient sculptures from Cambodia and Thailand—lounging robes and gowns in rare silks—-jewelry lavish as the Orient — modern classics in china, glass, silver and gifts — you'll see all these and more in the visit you'll never forget. GUMP'S 250 POST STREET SAN FRANCISCO The Incomparable Baldwin Great musicians, famous orchestras, noted concert artists and opera stars rely upon the Baldwin for faultless interpretation of their music used by the San Francisco Opera Company Sold exclusively by the DAY  MUSIC COMPANY 1123 S. W. Washington Portland, Oregon ELIZABETH BARKER 1130 S. W. ALDER STREET IMPORTER  OF ANTQUES Furniture       - China    Silver MAUD JONES, Manager    PORTLAND, OREGON San Francisco OPERA ASSOCIATION GAETANO MEROLA, General Director Officers ROBERT W. MILLER PRESIDENT CHARLES R. BLYTH VICE-PRESIDENT ARTHUR MERRILL BROWN, Jr. VICE-PRESIDENT EDWARD F. MOFFATT SECRETARY-TREASURER Board of Directors CHARLES R. BLYTH ARTHUR MERRILL BROWN, Jr, GEORGE T. CAMERON WILLIAM W.CROCKER MORTIMER FLEISHHACKER TIMOTHY HEALY ROBERT W. MILLER JOHN FRANCIS NEYLAN MRS. STANLEY POWELL MRS. HENRY POTTER RUSSELL RICHARD M. TOBIN NION R. TUCKER  Executive Staff PAUL POSZ BUSINESS MANAGER HOWARD G. HANVEY Publicity Director JESSIE KEENE Production Secretary CURRAN SWINT Associate EVELYN BLOSSER Office Secretary STANLEY MacLEWEE Production Comptroller PHYLIS AMATI Ticket Sales Town HOUSE Salon of Beauty Through these Portals Pass .... PORTLAND'S LOVELIEST WOMEN VISTA CENTER W. BURNSIDE at 23rd. PORTLAND, OREGON ATwater 8363 In Portland IT'S! Van Duyn chocolates A Candy Creation Delicious and Different —SIX CONVENIENT SHOPS— East Eighth and Broadway Sixth Near Washington Lipman Wolfe's Paramount Theatre Building Broadway Near Washington Hollywood Theatre Building THE RECORD SHOP for THE BEST IN RECORDED MUSIC Complete Operas or your Favorite Arias Symphonies, Concertos, performed by the leading artists. FOR SALE AND RENT Third Floor 808 S W ALDER at PARK BE 2979 Mail and Phone orders. SAN FRANCISCO OPERA COMPANY FIRST ANNUAL PORTLAND SEASON PORTLAND MUNICIPAL AUDITORIUM - OCTOBER 1941 PROGRAM MANON THURSDAY EVENING OCTOBER  2,  at 8:15 TANNHAUSER FRIDAY EVENING OCTOBER  3,   at 8:00 RIGOLETTO SATURDAY EVENING OCTOB ER  4,   at 8:15  Portland Management ELLISON-WHITE BUREAU Frank E. Andrews, President Greetings to the Music Loving Public of Portland The San Francisco Opera Association achieves a long desired ambition this Autumn in sending the San Francisco Opera Company on its first tour of the Pacific Coast. Nineteen years ago tne Opera Association was formed by a group of public spirited citizens who believed it possible to create an opera company that would meet a definite music need of the West. Year by year the San Francisco Opera Company has grown in stature. Some nine years ago the people of San Francisco rewarded the company's efforts by giving it a six million dollar Opera House as its home—one of the finest equipped and most modern opera houses in the world. Today the San Francisco Opera Company is second to none in artistic quality. Its principals are for the most part stars of the Metropolitan Opera Company. The chorus and ballet have won the acclaim of critics; the properties, costumes and lighting effects represent the last word in production resourcefulness. Although it has cost several millions of dollars to bring the company to its present state of maturity, the Opera Association offered the company and the best of its repertoire to a selected number of Pacific Coast cities at less than touring cost. Civic leaders in Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Los Angeles and Pasadena accepted the offer. The Opera Association welcomes this opportunity to share its company with the friends of good music in these cities. The extent of public support in the communities visited will determine the frequency and length of subsequent seasons. Play the melody with your right hand on the Hammond Solovox keyboard. Play the piano with your left. The Solovox produces the musical effects of violin, trumpet, 'cello, saxophone, flute, oboe, clarinet. With the Solovox you add the solo tone of these various orchestra instruments to the brilliant voice of your piano . . . easily and without learning new techniques. It's so easy to play that even a child can use it. 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Washington, Portland, Oregon Please send me information and folders about the new Hammond Solovox. I am interested in it for use in my home □ in an orchestra □ church □ school NAME STREET CITY STATE  Choose the instrument you want to play! There are many possible combinations to bring you "solo voices" resembling trombone, trumpet, flute,'cello, violin, oboe, organ .    pORTLAND STORE: 625 S. W. Washington THURSDAY   NIGHT,  OCTOBER  2,  at 8:15 MANON Opera in five acts. Music by Jules Massenet. Text ( in French) by Meilhac and Gille, after the novel by Abbe Prevost. THE CAST Manon Lescaut GRACE MOORE Chevalier des Grieux RAOUL JOBIN Lescaut, Manon's cousin JOHN BROWNLEE Count des Grieux LORENZO ALVARY Guillot Morfontaine, a roue ANTHONY MARLOWE De Bretigny, a nobleman GEORGE CEHANOVSKY Possette CHRISTINA CARROLL Javotte WILMA SPENCE Rosette ALICE AVAKIAN Maid MARGARET RITTER Innkeeper KARL LAUFKOETTER First Guard ROBERT BALLAGH Second Guard EDWARD WELLMAN Citizens, Travelers, Nobles, Soldiers, Prisoners STAGE DIRECTOR CONDUCTOR CHORUS MASTER ARMANDO AGNINI GAETANO MEROLA GIACOMO SPADONI TIME AND I'LACE 1721; Amiens, Paris, Havre. Act    I: Courtyard of an Inn, Amiens. Act II: Boudoir, in Manon's House, Paris. Act III:, Anteroom in Seminary of Saint Sulpice. Act IV: Gambling Salon, Hotel Transylvanie. Act V: Road to Havre. The Story of Manon Act I Lescault, a bibulous officer of the guard, is awaiting the coming of a coach bearing Manon, his cousin, who is being sent to a convent in his care. On her arrival, Guillot Morfontaine, an old roue, who is at the inn with a party, takes a fancy to the petite and pretty Manon and pays her court. Amused but flattered, Manon rejects his advances and he is called away by Bretigny, his traveling companion. Among those who have been attracted by Manon is young Chevalier des Grieux on his way to begin study for the priesthood. He approaches and pays his addresses. Manon, not liking the prospect of life in a convent, accepts his proposal and suggests an elopement to Paris. They use Gulliot's coach for the purpose. Act II Des Grieux and Manon are living in an apartment in Paris. Des Grieux writes for his father's consent to his marriage with Manon and goes out to post the letter. The capricious Manon, having found that the modest style of their menage hardly meets with her desires, listens to the advances made to her by Bretigny, who promises a life of luxury. It ends by her conniving in a scheme, planned by the elder Des Grieux, for carrying off the son from his questionable surroundings. However, she cannot leave without regret, for she knows how deeply Des Grieux loves her. And when he returns from posting the letter and tells her of a dream that has come to him, it is with a heavy heart that she thinks of their separation. A knock at the door halts the dream narrative. Manon, suddenly repentant, vainly tries to prevent her lover's capture. Act III Manon, as the mistress of Bretigny, is admired and feted. During an entertainment she has overheard a conversation between Bretigny and the elder Des Grieux from which she learned that the latter's son is a novice at Saint Sulpice, and seized with a sudden return of her old love she has hastened to the seminary. But the father is before her. He does his utmost to persuade his son from taking up the holy life. Des Grieux stubbornly refuses and seeks the sanctity of his cell. Manon arrives and sends for him. Des Grieux prays for strength to resist her sensuous pleadings. It is in vain and he flees the monastery with her. Act IV That Manon may have her love and still satisfy her craving for luxury, she persuades Des Grieux to gamble. In a fashionable temple of chance he wins large sums from Guillot, who revenges himself by denouncing Des Grieux as a cheat and Manon as an accomplice. Des Grieux and Manon are placed under arrest. The former is released through his father's influence, but Manon is sentenced to deportation. Act V Des Grieux is waiting for Manon to pass on her way to the ship that is to carry her to her exile. She approaches and, exhausted by the harsh treatment and illness, falls by the wayside. Lescault restrains Des Grieux from attacking the guard and himself disappears with the sergeant that Manon may find peace in her lover's arms. FRIDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 3, at 8:00 TANNHAUSER Opera in three acts and four scenes. Music and text (in German) by Richard Wagner. THE CAST Tannhauser, a minstrel knight LAURITZ MELCHIOR Elizabeth, niece of Hermann STELLA ROMAN Venus KARIN BRANZELL Herman, landgrave of Thuringia LORENZO ALVARY Wolfram JULIUS HUEHN Walfher   ERNEST SCHOEN Biterolf  JEROME HINES Heinrich KARL LAUFKOETTER Reinmar SERAFIM STRELKOFF Minstrel Knights A Young Shepherd CHRISTINA CARROLL Pages WILMA SPENCE, CHRISTINA CARROLL, ALICE AVAKIAN, JEANETTE HOPKINS Chorus of Thuringian Nobles and Knights, Ladies, Elder and Younger Pilgrims, Sirens, Naiads, Nymphs, Bacchantes Incidental Dances Arranged by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN, Ballet Master Principal Dancer, JANET REED, with Corps de Ballet STAGE DIRECTOR ARMANDO AGNINI CONDUCTOR ERICH LEINSDORF  CHORUS MASTER  GIACOMO SPADONI TIME AND PLACF  Beginning of the Thirteenth Century; Vicinity of Eisenach. Act    I: Scene 1 Within the Hill of Venus. Scene 2 The Valley of Wartburg. Act   II: The Great Hall of Song, Castle of Wartburg Act III: Same as Act 1, Scene 2 The Story of Tannhauser Act I Dwelling with the immortals under the spell of Venus, Tannhauser, the minstrel knight, wearies of the monotony of his sensuous life. Even as he sings praises to Venus his thoughts wander back to earth and he implores the goddess to let him return there. Venus angrily threatens him and Tannhauser cries in despair, "My salvation rests in Mary, Mother of God." The name of the Blessed Virgin breaks the unholy spell; Venus and her court disappear. [Scene 2] In pronounced contrast to the sensuous surroundings he has just left, Tannhauser finds himself alone in a beautiful valley near a wayside shrine before which he kneels in repentance. From a hill nearby a shepherd sings an ode to Spring; pilgrims chant as they pass on their way to Rome, and Tannhauser remorsefully sobs out his guilt in prayer. The Landgrave and his minstrel knights, hunting in the forest, are surprised to find Tannhauser, their long-lost knight. He tells them his soul is oppressed by his sin and that he must forever in penance roam alone. Their entreaties that he join them avail nothing until Wolfram reminds him of Elizabeth, niece of the Landgrave, who longs for his return. Tannhauser, taking new hope that in the purity of Elizabeth's love he may be saved, consents to return to Wartburg with the knights and promises to compete in the forthcoming Tournament of Song, the prize for which is to be the hand of Elizabeth. Act II The knights, assembled for the great song contest, are greeted by Elizabeth. Wolfram brings Tannhauser who tells Elizabeth that for her love alone he has returned. When he leaves her to join the other knights, her uncle comes to tell her that the singer whom she crowns as victor is to be her husband. Gorgeously arrayed, the contestants march, singing in chorus. The Landgrave welcomes the knights and gives them the contest theme, "Love." All of the knghts but Tannhauser sings to virtuous love, but he praises sensual passion and sings that he who knows not Venus, knows not love. The knights would crush him, but Elizabeth pleads that he be permitted to see Heaven's forgiveness, and he is sent off to beseech the pardon of the Pope. Act III Elizabeth, watching for Tannhauser, kneels by a crucifix. Tannhauser is not among the returning pilgrims who pass in chorus (The Pilgrim's Chorus), and she sinks to her knees in anguished prayer. Wolfram urges her to let him return with her to the castle, but she declines and sets off alone. Left by himself, and with night falling, Wolfram sings to the evening star his thoughts of Elizabeth. Tannhauser appears. The Pope has refused him absolution, and he is returning to Venus. A vision of Venus appears to him, but Wolfram speaks of Elizabeth, and Venus, seeing Tannhauser's hesitation disappears in defeat. A funeral procession approaches. Elizabeth has died. Tannhauser, broken with grief and exhaustion, falls dead beside her bier just as a second group of pilgrims arrives carrying the papal staff, which has brought forth green leaves—a miracle revealing that Tannhauser has been pardoned. SATURDAY NIGHT, OCTOBER 4, at 8:15 RIGOLETTO Opera in four acts. Music by Giuseppe Verdi. Text (in Italian) by Francesco Maria Piave, founded on Victor Hugo's drama "Le Roi s'Amuse." THE CAST Rigoletto, a hunchback, jester to the Duke LAWRENCE TIBBETT Gilda, his daughter BIDU SAY AO Duke of Mantua, a titled profligate JAN PEERCE Sparafucile, a hired assassin LORENZO ALVARY Maddalena, his sister IRRA PETINA Count Monterone JEROME HINES Count Ceprano EDWARD WELLMAN Borsa ANTHONY MARLOWE Marullo GEORGE CEHANOVSKY Countess Ceprano MARY HELEN MARKHAM Giovanna THELMA VOTIPKA Page KATHLEEN LAWLOR Courtiers, Pages, Servants. Incidental Dances Arranged by WILLAM CHRISTENSEN, Ballet Master Corps de Ballet STAGE DIRECTOR ARMANDO AGNINI CONDUCTOR GENNARO PAPI CHORUS MASTER GIACOMO SPADONI TIME AND  PLACE Sixteenth Century; Mantua and Vicinity. Act    I: Ballroom in the Duke's Palace. Act   II: A Street outside Rigoletto's House. Act III: Hall in the Duke's Palace. Act IV: Ruined Inn in a Lonely Spot—Sparafucile's Home. The Story of "Rigoletto" Act  I * The court of the Duke of Mantua is a place of debauchery. Rigoletto, a hunchback jester, whose biting wit has made him many enemies" among the courtiers, panders to the Duke's depravity. The jester has a daughter, Gilda. But knowing so intimately the follies of his time he has kept her in a far quarter of the city to hide her fact and person from his profligate associates. The Duke, however, has seen her several times in church and, disguised as a student, has won her love. The curtain rises on a fete in the palace of the Duke who tells his confidant, Borsa, of the unknown beauty. But charms at hand are not to be overlooked and he courts the Countess Ceprano under the very eyes of her husband. Marullo has discovered Rigoletto's secret but believes Gilda to be his mistress. He plans with the courtiers for her abduction to avenge themselves on the jester. Monterone, who has lost his wife and daughter to the Duke, comes to the fete and pronounces a father's curse on Rigoletto and his master much to the terrification of the hunchback. Act II Rigoletto hurriedly steals to the house where Gilda is kept secluded. He meets Sparafucile, a professional killer, and promises to bear him in mind should he wish to make away with any enemies. Entering the courtyard of his home, Rigoletto embraces Gilda tenderly and, remembering the curse, commands her never to leave the house. As they talk the Duke, in student's guise, slips into the yard through connivance with Gilda's maid. The Duke and Gilda are exchanging vows following the departure of Rigoletto, when they hear approaching voices and the Duke hurries away. Rigoletto meets the party of courtiers who have come to carry out their plan for the abduction of Gilda. To mislead him they ask his aid in abducting the Countess Ceprano. Rigoletto submits to blindfolding and holds the ladder down which they carry Gilda. Left alone he removes the blind and realizes he has been duped. Act III The Duke, having returned to the hunchback's home to find his bird flown, is now back at the place disconsolate. Informed that Rigoletto's "mistress" has been captured and is in the next room he hastens in to her. Rigoletto enters and, despite pitiable jocular attempts at concealment, breaks down and heartbrokenly admits the abducted girl to be his daughter. The door opens and Gilda rushes into his arms as he vows vengeance on the Duke. Act IV To prove the Duke's falseness to Gilda who still loves him, Rigoletto takes her to Sparafucile's inn where she hears her lover with Maddalena, the inn-keeper's sister. Heartbroken she goes away with her father to prepare for flight from the city. Rigoletto returns and bargains with Sparafucile for the murder of the Duke. Gilda, beaten back to the inn for shelter from a storm which has arisen, hears Sparafucile promise Maddalena to spare the Duke's life if another person comes to the inn who might be murdered in his stead. Gilda enters, is killed and her body, in a sack, is delivered to Rigoletto. ELLISON-WHITE BUREAU Presents WORLD FAMOUS ARTISTS FRANK E. ANDREWS, President J. R. ELLISON, Vice-President F. M. WILSON, Secretary MARION E. ANDREWS, Manager Ticket Sales Portland's GREATER  ARTISTS SERIES Season 1941-42 PAUL ROBESON Saturday Evening, Nov. 15 BALLET RUSSE De  MONTE CARLO Tuesday Evening, Jan. 20 ZINO FRANCESCATTI Monday Evening, Feb. 2 SIR THOMAS BEECHAM Conducting The Seattle Symphony Orchestra Tuesday Evening, Feb. 24 GRACE MOORE Monday Evening, Mar. 9  ARTUR RUBINSTEIN Thursday Evening, Mar. 19  JOHN CHARLES THOMAS Monday Evening, Apr. 27    ORDER SEASON TICKETS NOW Secure Better Seats. 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