Photo by Lisa Cuscuna
Mezzo Dolora Zajick, long cast in the title role of Tobias Picker’s Dolores Claiborne, which will have its world premiere in the War Memorial on Sept. 18, 2013 withdrew from the production on Monday:
I am devastated that I am unable to continue my work on Dolores Claiborne. The opera proved to be more challenging physically and vocally than I had anticipated and, exacerbated by my knee problems, I feel it is best to withdraw at this point rather than try to push forward.I sincerely wish the cast, the incredible production team and Tobias good luck with the remaining rehearsals and the opening. I will miss being part of it.
San Francisco Opera General Director David Gockley reassigned the role to soprano Patricia Racette for the first four performances, while expressing regret about Zajick's difficulties. Racette, who debuted with SF Opera in 1989, is currently preparing for the dual roles as Marguerite and Elena in Boito’s Mefistofele. The last two Claiborne performances will be sung by Catherine Cook, who is role cover, in rehearsals since Aug. 9, and having sung the role in last year's workshop performances.
Photo by Cory Weaver
Commissioned by Gockley, Dolores Claiborne has a libretto by J.D. McClatchy, based on the eponymous novel by Stephen King about the confession of a wife killing her husband for molesting their 14-year-old daughter. Gockley thanked Racette for agreeing to take on a demanding role in addition to her other assignments, and pointed out that she is well familiar with Picker’s works, having performed in two of his earlier operas, Emmeline and An American Tragedy.
The cast also includes soprano Elizabeth Futral as Vera Donovan, Susannah Biller as Selena St. George (the daughter), Wayne Tigges as Joe St. George, Greg Fedderly as Detective Thibodeau, and Joel Sorensen as Mr. Pease. In his company debut, George Manahan conducts the two-act opera, sung in English.
After the Sept. 6, 11, and 14 performances of Mefistofele, this is what Racette's schedule is like in a 16-day period:
9/17 Mefistofele
9/18 Dolores
9/20 Mefistofele
9/22 Dolores
9/24 Mefistofele
9/25 Dolores
9/28 Dolores
9/29 Mefistofele
10/2 Mefistofele
10/4 "Diva on Detour"
Which is still leaving five whole days for, perhaps, Brünnhilde and Salome?