First performance at Teatro alla Scala, Milano September 5, 1840

First performance at Teatro alla Scala, Milano
September 5, 1840

A double wedding is about to take place at the house of a rich French Baron. He’s marrying off his daughter to a finance minister and his niece to a Count. Both young ladies are unhappy about these arrangements, for they are in love with two other men.

Invited to this wedding is King Stanislaus of Poland. But the actual King (whose reign has been challenged in the wars of Polish succession) is traveling to Poland to reclaim the throne. In order to capitalize on the surprise factor back in Warsaw, a French officer (Belfiore) has been assigned to impersonate him at the wedding. On the same day the real king is attempting to regain his throne, the false king is maneuvering to block the arranged marriages.

The false King (Belfiore in disguise) is actually the young man with whom the Baron’s daughter is in love. Two love triangles, some bribes, and more subterfuge are all we need to propel the story along. Belfiore manages to untangle it all, and—decidedly entrenched in the mid-19^th century comic tradition—all ends happily.

Conductor................................................. Brian Garman
Director.................................................. Kristine McIntyre
Scenic Design............................................. Erhard Rom
Costume Design......................................... Carol Bailey
Lighting Design.................................. Robert H. Grimes
Hair & Makeup Design...................... Elsen Associates
Principal Coach................................................... Miah Im
Chorusmaster ............................................... Eric Melear
Production Stage Manager................... Sean Corcoran

Cast (in order of vocal appearance)
Barone di Kelbar........................................................................ Ryan McKinny
La Rocca (treasurer, friend of the Barone)..................... Joshua Jeremiah
Delmonte (servant of the false King) ........................... Dominic Armstrong
Belfiore (French cavalier posing as the King of Poland)...... Liam Bonner
Edoardo (nephew of La Rocca)................................................ Beau Gibson
Marchesa (niece of the Baron, beloved of Belfiore) ......... Tamara Wilson
Giulietta (daughter of the Baron, in love with Edoardo)... Marjorie Owens
Uno Servo.............................................................................. Timothy Beenken
Conte Ivrea (betrothed to the Marchesa)................................... Diego Torre
Servants of the Barone............................................. Wolf Trap Opera Studio