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San Diego Opera Office Records
MS-0477
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: San Diego Opera Office Records
Creator:
San Diego Opera Office
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0477
Physical Description:
12.68 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1968-2007
Language of Material:
English
.
The
San Diego Opera Office Collection (1968-2004) documents the administration, creative history, development, and growth of the San Diego Opera (SDO). It includes
correspondence, memoranda, clippings, minutes, photographs, budgets, financial records, and detailed documentation of numerous
productions. The collection consists of three major series:
Administrative Files (1968-2004),
Production Files (1973-1995), and
Publicity (1980-2007). The
Administrative Files have three sub-series:
Correspondence (1976-2004),
General Files (1975-2000), and
Rental Files (1968-1996). The
Production Files are filed in two sub-series:
Production Binders (1973-1990) and
Production Photographs (1974-1995).
The
Administrative Files (1968-2004) include three subseries:
Correspondence (1976-2004),
General Files (1975-2000), and
Rental Files (1968-1996). These files document SDO's general operations, activities and functions, interaction with the public, and the
company's growth and development over several decades. The
Correspondence (1976-2004) subseries documents some of SDO's interactions with the public. It primarily consists of letters sent to SDO
from audience members and reviewers in response to performances, show selection, and other topics. Responses from San Diego
Opera staff, especially Director Ian Campbell and Artistic Administrator Marianne Flettner are sometimes included. Letters
sometimes include clippings, and the sub-series is filed chronologically. The
General Files (1975-2000) document daily operations, work with various performers, and early production preparation. It includes clippings,
brochures, receipts, internal correspondence, correspondence exchanged with performers and other opera companies both in the
US and abroad, photos of former Director Tito Capobianco, performer head shots, and audition forms, and is filed alphabetically
by file name. The
Rental Files (1968-1996) document the San Diego Opera's Scenic Studios rental relationships with various opera and production companies
around the US who have used sets designed and created by San Diego Opera in their own productions. It includes set rental
forms, diagrams, photographs, slides, rental agreements, correspondence, and shipping forms, and is filed alphabetically by
file name.
The
Production Files (1973-1995) include two subseries:
Production Binders (1973-1990) and
Production Photographs (1974-1995). These files document the creation and performance of SDO's regular season productions. The
Production Binders (1973-1990) include materials originally stored in large 3-ring binders, and document the complex and detailed processes
necessary to stage an opera production. The subseries includes casting information, correspondence with principal performers,
information on orchestral musicians, choruses, dancers, sets, props, contracts, costumes, technical staff, rehearsal schedules,
rental documentation, handwritten notes, correspondence, set diagrams, and some photographs, and is filed chronologically.
The
Production Photographs (1974-1995) document finished opera performances as they were staged at SDO. The majority of photographs are from performances
staged in the 1970s and 1980s, though some productions are undated. The subseries includes production stills only, and is
filed chronologically.
The
Publicity (1980-2007) series documents the SDO's coverage in various print media outlets, and consists primarily of published reviews
of SDO performances. Clippings were gathered by the San Diego Clipping Service from various local and national publications
including the
San Diego Union,
Evening Tribune,
San Diego Daily Transcript,
La Prensa,
Seattle Post Intelligencer,
Los Angeles Times, and numerous others. The series is filed chronologically.
I. Administrative Files, 1968-2004
a.) Correspondence, 1976-2004
b.) General Files, 1975-2000
c.) Rental Files, 1968-1996
II. Production Files, 1973-1995
a.) Production Binders, 1973-1990
b.) Production Photographs, 1974-1995
III. Publicity, 1980-2007
This collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
San Diego History Center
2008-029
The San Diego Opera Office Collection was originally donated to the San Diego History Center from 1984 to 2008. In 2008 it
was transferred by the San Diego History Center to San Diego State University Library and Information Access.
San Diego Opera Association Records
San Diego Opera Guild Records
Identification of item, folder title, box number, San Diego Opera Office Records, Special Collections and University Archives,
San Diego State University Library.
San Diego Opera, with roots back to the formation of the San Diego Opera Guild in 1950, took its present administrative form
in 1974, with the creation of the San Diego Opera Association. The San Diego Opera Office's work focuses on the company's
production and performance of opera both during the regular season and for special programs and series.
In 1976, with the passing of founding Director Walter Herbert, the San Diego Opera Association hired Tito Capobianco, formerly
of the New York City Opera, as General Director of the San Diego Opera. Capobianco's tenure saw the San Diego Opera gain international
renown. He introduced an annual summer Verdi Festival, which usually featured two operas, one a late composition and the other
from Verdi's "galley years." Capobianco also expanded the regular season to six productions, and brought such renowned opera
superstars as Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, and Beverly Sills to San Diego opera audiences.
In 1983, the SDOA hired a new General Director, Ian Campbell, formerly of Opera Australia and the New York Metropolitan Opera.
Campbell restored fiscal stability to the San Diego Opera, and has worked throughout his tenure to increase San Diego Opera's
audience. While the Verdi Festival only continued through 1985, he expanded the regular season, and introduced a new concert
program designed to bring internationally renowned opera stars to San Diego. His work with the
North American Voices Project adds contemporary American operas to the traditional repertoire performed at San Diego Opera each year.
Notable artists who have performed with San Diego Opera include Luciano Pavarotti, Beverly Sills, Joan Sutherland, Richard
Bonynge, Richard Leech, Placido Domingo, and Renee Fleming. San Diego Opera has staged the World Premieres of numerous productions,
including Myron Fink's
The Conquistador, Gian Carlo Menotti's
La Loca, and Alva Henderson's
Medea. Also significant are the United States Premieres of such operas as Daniel Catan's
Rapaccini's Daughter, Hanz Werner Henze's
The Young Lord, Ricardo Zandonai's
Giulietta e Romeo, and Emmanuel Chabrier's
Gwendoline. Other notable performances include Beverly Sills' farewell performance opposite Joan Sutherland in
Die Fledermaus, and the commissioned Zandra Rhodes productions of
The Magic Flute and
The Pearl Fishers.
San Diego Opera is ranked by OPERA America as one of the top 10 opera companies in the United States, and was recently honored
as one of 13 "Cornerstone Arts Organizations" by the James Irvine Foundation. In addition, San Diego Opera is the only San
Diego arts organization to receive an almost perfect ranking from both the California Arts Council and the City of San Diego
Commission for Arts & Culture.