11/17/12 – The Rape of Lucretia – 1:00pm
Houston Grand Opera
The Rape of Lucretia by Benjamin Britten
Libretto by Ronald Duncan
Sung in English
Approximate running time: 1 hour 56 minutes, including two intermissions
The writings of historians Livy and Dionysius of Halicarnassus tell the story of Lucretia, a Roman officer’s wife whose very purity inflamed the lust of Prince Tarquinius of Rome and whose rape incited the overthrow of the Roman monarchy. In Britten’s opera, Tarquinius comes to her home while her husband is away in the army camp, asks for lodging, and violently attacks her during the night. Unable to bear her shame, Lucretia kills herself.
Cast (in order of appearance)
Male Chorus – Anthony Dean Griffey
Female Chorus – Leah Crocetto
Collatinus – Ryan McKinny
Junius – Joshua Hopkins
Tarquinius – Jacques Imbrailo
Lucretia – Michelle DeYoung
Bianca – Judith Forst
Lucia – Lauren Snouffer
First Violin – Denise Tarrant
Second Violin – Erica Robinson
Viola Eliseo – Rene Salazar
Cello – Barrett Sills
Double Bass – Dennis Whittaker
Flute/Piccolo/Alto Flute – Mercedes Smith
Oboe/English Horn – Elizabeth Priestly Siffert
Clarinet/Bass Clarinet – Carol Stinson
Bassoon – Thomas DeWitt
French Horn – Sarah Cranston
Harp – Joan Eidman
Timpani – Nancy Nelson
Percussion – Richard Brown
Keyboard – Bethany Self
Crew
Conductor – Rory Macdonald
Director – Arin Arbus
Set Designer – Jean-Guy Lecat
Costume Designer – Anita Yavich
Lighting Designer – Michael James Clark
Fight Director – Brian Byrnes
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Photos by Felix Sanchez
