by Camille Saint-Saens

Libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire

Dwight Gustafson, conductor

Darren Lawson, stage director
Jeffrey Stegall, scene and costume designer
Richard Streeter, lighting designer
Cast of Characters
(in order of vocal appearance)
Samson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jeffrey Springer
Abimelech, Satrap of Gaza. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Todd Jones
High Priest of Dagon. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Stearns
First Philistine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Andrew Huish
Second Philistine. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Madera
Philistine Messenger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Rush
An Old Hebrew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Parker
Dalila . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Horn-Barrett

Musical Staff
Assistant Conductor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . C. Stanley Eby
Chorusmasters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Beth Eubank, Fred Coleman, Warren Cook, Eric Rea
Understudies . . . . . . . . . . . Angela Ouillette, Tim Renner, Jason Rush, Matthew Wally
Rehearsal Accompanist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Duane Ream
Assistant Rehearsal Accompanist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Daniel Overly

Production Staff
Producer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Darren Lawson
Assistant to the Stage Director. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Laura Beth Kirsop
Production Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rod McCarty
Costume/Makeup/Hair Supervisor. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dan Sandy
Set Artist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jason Waggoner
Set Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Randall Snively
Assistant Designers . . . . . . . . . . . . Jonathan Johnson, Cynthia Long, Jason Waggoner
Prop Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . David Vierow
Technical Engineer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Gayland Slick
Costume Construction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pam Adams, Barb Filipsic, Cynthia Long
Joyce Parsons, Valli Rassi, Becky Sandy, Kimberly Schmidt
Wig Master . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Rose Marie Blumer
Hairstylists. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alicia Carr, Elizabeth Sowers
Assistant to the Production Manager . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sandy Jaworski
Stage Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max Miller
Front of House Mixer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Max Masters
Choreographer. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tessa Harcourt
Hebrew Men: Peter Anglea, Benjamin Archibald, Samuel Arnold, Dustin
Battles, Justen Blackstone, Tim Brokke, Brian Buda, Drew Carlisle,
Jon Cochran, Marshall Corzette, Caleb Downs, Micah Felber, Andrew
French, Bryant Graves, John Hudson, Jae Jung, Caleb Lynch, Mattaniah
Merrill, Jon Reid, Philip Robinson, Ethan Simpson, Brett Smith, Jason
Steffensmeier, John Van Steenburgh, Matt Wally, Ethan Weaver, Brad
Wiggs, Trevor Whitfield
Hebrew Women: Audrey Carl, Kaitlyn Chisholm, Amanda Collins,
Lauren Cunningham, Pamela Dodson, Jamie Ertter, Kara Felber, Ashley
Hale, Megan Hamilton, Angela Hawkey, Carolyn Holland, Lauren
Holland, Hannah Hudspeth, Tamra Jones, Erica Jung, Meghan Leach,
Amanda Lockard, Callie Merrill, Stephanie Michalek, Jessica Milby, Jessie
Rea, Sarah Roe, Lydia Schaefer, Markel Toler, Gloriane Vasso, Emily
Whitford, Erin Willis
Hebrew Children: Jonathan Daulton, Charisse McGonigal, Erika
McGonigal, James McCarty, Carson McQuaid, Emily Orr

Philistine Men: Micah Alexander, Nick Bergen, Jonathan Blumer, Joseph

Brader, Micah Broyles, Miles Carper, Jimmy Dignan, Bill Eisaman, Dave
Galvin, Caleb Greene, Jay Hale, Andrew Huish, Eduard Klassen, Philip
Little, James Mann, Tim Miles, Patrick Olivas, Andy Rouse, Tim Schlater,
Philip Shambaugh, Ryan Southard, Jonathan Watson, Jonathan Wooster,
Tim Zellers
Philistine Women: Lauren Beard, Christina Bianchi, Katrina Case,
Marissa Doney, Renee Fleming, Katie Foran, Mary Beth Garrison, Katy
Hendricks, Becca Hill, Faith Houck, Ashley Johnson, Erin Kile, Megan
Kingsbury, Anne Largent, Diana Little, Holly Matthews, Tara Mayhugh,
Lauren McGowan, Tawnya Morse, Hilary Patterson, Anna Ream, Laura
Sawtelle, Brittany Searfoss, Christina Shelp, Jamie Wilson
Philistine Priestesses: Allison Anderson, Kristin Anderson, Carrie Bird,
Melissa Creel, Stephanie Darlin, Kristin Frazier, Shannon Horner, Krista
Huba, Ashley King, Jodianne Lindmark, Megan Nowak, Lana Tagli,
Elizabeth Thomson, Kaitlynn Tompkins, Rebecca Williams
Philistine Soldiers, Torchbearers, Dancers and Attendants: Chet
Bednar, Stephen Bereza, David Capuano, Emily Engelsgjerd, Caid
Ferguson, Jill Iles, Lauren Jacobs, Daniel Johnson, Ryan Leach, Sydney
Manor, Ben McElmurray, Jonathan Melton, Zachary Moore, Amy Nelson,
Jaclyn Ong, Liza Osuna, Joshua Pratt, Ben Schroeder, Mike Stanton,
Rebecca Tomlinson, David Williams, Kenneth Willis, Miriam Wise, Karl
Woodham, Willy Worinkeng
University Orchestra
Violin I Flute Cornet
Esther Minnick Angela Stockard* Bruce Cox †
(concertmistress) Catherine Jones Ryan Nichols
Allison Chetta Lydia Carroll (piccolo)
Ardis Chetta Trombone
Sylvia Ensminger Oboe Thomas Aldmon*
Kristopher Endean Chelsea Cox* Dustan Chevalier
Ethan Holmes Michael VerWay Andrew Bonnema
Kimberly Hawkey†
Tyler Hacker English Horn Tuba
David McGuire† Corrinne Word
Violin II
William Ronning* Clarinet Timpani
Crawford Wiley Robert Chest*† Michael Moore †
Erica Johannes Fiona Knoll
Rachael Mantelli Percussion
Shannon Wood Bass Clarinet Jonathan Lee
Amy Bach Roseanne Hutton† Elizabeth Rogers
Micah Talbert
Viola Bassoon Jeff Thompson
Lydia Minnick* Britanny Batdorf*
Danielle Nifenecker Alex Fields† Harp
Ron Sondergaard† Aubrey Elliot
Whitney Wood Horn Sarah Northrop
Aaron Gellos*†
Cello Ben Bruemmer * principal
Chris Erickson* Jill Parry † faculty/staff/graduate/
Thomas Dalton Wesley Peters graduate student/guest
Chris Powell †
Klayton Hoefler Trumpet
Jocelyn Sorrell*†
Double Bass Chloe Holmes
Alex Jones*†
Amber Eubanks†
Synopsis
The action takes place in Gaza in Palestine about 1150 B.C.
ACT I
A group of Israelites bewail their bondage before the Temple of Dagon in
the city of Gaza. Samson urges them to throw off the Philistines’ yolk.
Their ringing shouts attract Abimelech, the ruler of Gaza, who upbraids
them for daring to speak against their masters. His blasphemy stirs
Samson, who, when attacked by the ruler, kills him with his own weapon.
This is the signal for revolt, and the Hebrews rush off to gather their forces.
The High Priest approaches. When news reaches him of Samson’s victory
and imminent return, he and his panic-stricken followers flee with the body
of Abimelech. The Hebrews return in triumph but this time are greeted by
Dalila and the priestesses of Dagon. Samson is warned by an old Hebrew to
resist the enchantress.
INTERMISSION*
ACT II
Night is descending on Dalila’s dwelling in the valley of Sorek as she awaits
Samson’s return. The High Priest appears, urging Dalila not to fail in her
plan to destroy Samson’s power. After he has gone, Samson approaches.
As a storm gathers over the valley, Dalila uses all her cunning to gain the
secret of Samson’s strength, but he struggles between his sense of duty and
his attraction to her. She scorns him and enters her dwelling. As the storm
breaks in all its fury, Samson rushes after her. Soon Philistine soldiers
appear. Samson’s cry of treason is heard, and the soldiers overpower him.
INTERMISSION*
ACT III
Scene 1: Blinded and shorn of his glory, Samson now turns a millstone for
the Philistines. As he pleads for mercy, his fellow countrymen sing, “For a
woman he sold his power and made us captives.”
Scene 2: In the Temple of Dagon, dawn brings worshippers to sing the
praises of Love and Light and to begin ritual pagan revelry. In front of the
Philistine god, Dagon, Samson is taunted by Dalila and the High Priest as
they prepare for the morning sacrifice. Samson is led between two pillars.
Calling on God for the return of his strength, he brings down the temple,
burying himself with his enemies.
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
Dramatic tenor Jeffrey Springer has performed
to popular acclaim across Europe and North
America in theaters such as the Chicago Lyric
Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Michigan Opera
Theater, Cincinnati Opera, Manitoba Opera,
as well as the German National Theater in
Mannheim, Krefeld, Mönchengladbach, and
Magdeburg; National Touring Opera of the
Netherlands; Opéra de Nantes in France; and
Spain’s Teatro de Navarra, among many others.
On the concert stage, Mr. Springer has appeared
with leading orchestras, including the San
Francisco Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, The Grand
Teton’s Music Festival, Philharmonia Hungaria and Romanian State
Symphony. Most recently he performed Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Japan
with the Beethoven Orchestra of Bonn, Germany. Other notable operatic
engagements include the title role of Samson in Samson & Dalila with
the Dublin International Opera Festival, Manrico in Il Trovatore at Opera
Naples and in concert with the Westfield Symphony, and Calaf in Turandot
in concert with the South Dakota Symphony.
Mr. Springer was honored as being one of this generation’s Emerging
Wagner Artists by the famous duo, Thomas Stewart and Evelyn Lear, and
the Washington D.C. Wagner Society. In addition, he is the winner of the
Concours International de Chant de Festival Atlantique in Nantes, France;
the José Carreras Prize in Pamplona, Spain; and the Third Prize in the
Concours International de Chant in Toulouse, France. He is also a grant
recipient from the New York City Wagner Society and from the prestigious
Gerda Lissner Foundation in New York. A graduate of Indiana University,
Jeffrey Springer moved into the tenor repertoire under the instruction of the
legendary heldentenor, James King.
Mezzo-soprano Angela Horn-Barrett, named
one of New York City Opera’s Outstanding Artists
of the Year, is performing to critical acclaim
worldwide. She remains in constant demand in
houses such as the New York City Opera, Boston
Lyric Opera, Opera Carolina and the Baltimore
Opera. Ms. Horn-Barrett has performed to popular
acclaim on four continents, including engagements
with the National Theater of the Dominican
Republic, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Opera Pacific, Opera
de Monte Carlo, and Hamburgische Staatsoper,
and has toured with Roberto Alagna in Japan.
Ms. Horn-Barrett has also appeared as soloist with orchestras such as the
Toronto Symphony, the Bach Society of Saint Louis, the Apollo Chorus of
Chicago in Orchestra Hall, The National Chorale of New York City and the
American Symphony Orchestra in Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall. Ms.
Horn-Barrett has appeared in the title role in Carmen with the Minnesota
Orchestra, New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera and Opera Lyra
Ottawa; Maddalena in Rigoletto with Bob Jones University and Opera
Carolina; Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with Nashville Opera; and
Emilia in Otello for Opera Omaha.
Ms. Horn-Barrett received her undergraduate musical training at the
Conservatory of Music in Kansas City and completed her advanced vocal
studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, where she was a graduate of
the Juilliard Opera Center.
Jason Stearns has steadily built a reputation as
a distinguished interpreter of the most unique
and challenging roles in the dramatic baritone
repertoire. He has made impressive appearances
with the Metropolitan Opera, the Lyric Opera
of Chicago, the Savonlinna Festival and the Los
Angeles Opera, as well as with the Washington
National Opera. His European debut in 2006 was
as Di Luna in a new production of Il Trovatore with
Musiktheater im Revier in Gelsenkirchen.
Mr. Stearns has recently appeared in the title role
in Macbeth at Palacio das Artes in Belo Horizante,
Brazil, and as Monterone in Rigoletto under Maestro Conlon at the Ravinia
Festival. This season, he covered Scarpia in Luc Bondy’s new production of
Tosca at the Metropolitan Opera before his debut at Den Norske Opera in
Oslo. Future engagements include his return to Den Norske Opera and the
Metropolitan Opera. Other recent notable engagements include the High
Priest in Samson et Dalila opposite Denyce Graves at Florida Grand Opera,
Lohengrin with the Leipzig Opera, Donner in Das Rheingold and Don Carlo in
Ernani with Opera Boston.
Mr. Stearns was the first-prize winner of the first annual Chester Ludgin
American Verdi Baritone Competition in 2005. With the National Symphony
in Washington, D.C., Mr. Stearns recorded the baritone solos in John
Corigliano’s Of Rage and Remembrance, which won a Grammy Award in 1997.
 RODEHEAVER AUDITORIUM
March 9, 11 and 13, 2010, 8 P.M.

*Chimes will sound and lobby lights will flash three minutes before the end of intermission.
After the houselights are dimmed following intermission, no one will be readmitted to his seat.

Cameras and recording equipment are not permitted in the auditorium during any performance.
We request that signal watches and personal communication devices be turned off during the program.

Tickets for this production have been sponsored by Bank of Travelers Rest.

PP 003 (7164) 2/10