The Santa Fe Opera

Skip to main content Skip to search
Intermezzo

Intermezzo 2003

July 12 - August 6, 2003

Inspired by a real-life marital mix-up…

…Strauss put his own family onstage in this charming comedy.

Music and Libretto By
Richard Strauss
English Translation By
Andrew Porter

Synopsis

Act I

Robert Storch, a famous composer and conductor, is about to leave town for a conducting engagement, which delights his wife Christine. She feels under-appreciated and dislikes the evening hours associated with his job. Christine goes to a winter resort and conducts a flirtation with Baron Lummer, who turns out to be an impoverished nobleman searching for a loan. Later on, Christine opens a letter addressed to her husband and is furious to find that it is a love letter from a young woman named Mitzi Meyer. She vows to divorce Robert.

Act II

Robert and his friends, including the conductor Stroh, arrange for an evening of male camaraderie and card games, during which they discuss Christine’s volatile temperament. Robert receives a letter from Christine announcing that she is leaving him. Christine visits a notary and asks him to help arrange for a divorce, but the notary suspects that the real reason for her request is her relationship with Baron Lummer. Stroh and Robert realize that Mitzi has mixed up their names – the love letter was meant for Stroh, rather than for Storch. They explain the confusion to Christine, who is reconciled with her husband.

Artists

Judith Howarth headshot

Judith Howarth

Soprano

Christine Storch

Scott Hendricks headshot

Scott Hendricks

Baritone

Robert Storch

Erie Mills headshot

Erie Mills

Soprano

Anna

Brandon Jovanovich headshot

Brandon Jovanovich

Tenor

Baron Lummer

Jennifer Roderer headshot

Jennifer Roderer

Mezzo-soprano

The Notary's Wife

Deborah van Renterghem headshot

Deborah van Renterghem

Soprano

Resi

Christopher Feigum headshot

Christopher Feigum

Bass-baritone

A Businessman

Mikhail Svetlov headshot

Mikhail Svetlov

Bass

An Opera Singer

Barry Banks headshot

Barry Banks

Tenor

Stroh

Timothy Nolen headshot

Timothy Nolen

Baritone

A Notary

Wilbur Pauley

Wilbur Pauley

Baritone

A Lawyer

Amanda Borst

Soprano

Marie

Laura Vlasak Nolen headshot

Laura Vlasak Nolen

Mezzo-soprano

Fanny

Camille Kowash Tierney headshot

Camille Kowash Tierney

Soprano

Therese

Kenneth Montgomery headshot

Kenneth Montgomery

Conductor

Ken Cazan headshot

Ken Cazan

Director

Carl Friedrich Oberle headshot

Carl Friedrich Oberle

Scenic & Costume Designer

Rick Fisher headshot

Rick Fisher

Lighting Designer