Cast & Characters
THE CAST
Conductor: James LevineBrünnhilde: Deborah Voigt
Sieglinde: Eva-Maria Westbroek
Fricka: Stephanie Blythe
Siegmund: Jonas Kaufmann
Wotan: Bryn Terfel
Hunding: Hans-Peter König
THE CHARACTERS
Rodolfo (tenor) - A poor Parisian poet who falls in love with Mimi. His jealousy drives her away, but secretly he is concerned that he cannot give her the care she needs.Leonore (soprano) - Wife of Florestan, known as 'Fidelio.'
Leonora (soprano) - lady-in-waiting at an Aragonese court. She is courted by Count di Luna, but rebuffs him since she has fallen in love with a mysterious troubadour who comes to serenade her at night.
Elektra (soprano; usually spelled Electra in English)-daughter of King Agammemnon and Klytämnestra, a young girl obsessed with killing her mother to avenge her father's murder.
Eddie Carbone (baritone)-A Brooklyn longshoreman unconsciously attracted to his niece Catherine, whom he and his wife Beatrice have raised from a baby.
Beatrice Carbone (soprano)-Eddie's wife. After Eddie neglects her for months, she begins to suspect his feelings for their niece.
Catherine (soprano)-The Carbones' beautiful young niece.
Rodolpho (tenor)-Beatrice's cousin (Marco's brother), who travels from Italy to stay with the Carbones and make his fortune. He is flashy, popular, attractive, and has big dreams - a natural love interest for Catherine.
Marco (bass)-Beatrice's Italian cousin (Rodolpho's brother), also staying in the Carbone household. He is a man of honor, strong as an ox and fiercely devoted to his family.
Alfieri (baritone)-Eddie's lawyer and the narrator of the piece, a contemplative man with a strong sense of right and wrong.
Mike (tenor), Louis (bass-baritone), and Tony (tenor)- Longshoremen, friends and coworkers of Eddie.
First Officer (baritone)
Second Officer (tenor)
Rosalinde (soprano): Eisenstein's wife, a pretty, mischievous young woman tired of her husband's wandering eye.
Blanche de la Force (soprano)-An easily frightened young noblewoman who seeks refuge from the world at the Carmelite convent.
Don José, tenor - A corporal in the army. At first he is a decent, respectable soldier, in love with a peasant girl named Micaela, but he is seduced by Carmen to the life of an outlaw.
Jenufa (soprano) (YEY-noo-fa)-The step-daughter of the Kostelnicka, a trusting, honest, and intelligent girl. When the opera begins she has become pregnant by her lover Steva, and is anxious to marry him before anyone finds out.
Pasha Selim (speaking part)-A former Christian, now converted to Islam, who has become a rich Ottoman lord (Pasha)
Imogene (soprano)-The Lady of the castle. She was once engaged to Gualtiero, with whom she was deeply in love-but was forced to marry Ernesto instead.
Gualtiero (tenor)-Imogene's old fiancé, a moody man ruled by his passions. He is a nobleman turned pirate, and lives for the chance to see Imogene again.
Ernesto (baritone)-Duke of the castle, Imogene's husband, and Gualtiero's mortal enemy. A selfish and cruel man, he forced Imogene to marry him against her will.
Goffredo (bass)-Gualtiero's old tutor. He has become a hermit, and lives in a small hut on the beach.
Don Giovanni (baritone)-A nobleman obsessed with seducing women. He is willing to lie, cheat, and even murder to add more women to his list of conquests.
Cassandre (soprano)-Trojan princess and prophetess who lives under the curse that no one will ever believe her prophecies. She is the daughter of King Priam, sister of the dead Trojan hero Hector, and fiancée of Chorebe.
Otello (tenor)- The Moorish Governor of Cyprus, and general in the Venetian army. He is deeply in love with his Venetian wife, Desdemona.
Desdemona (soprano)- Otello's new wife, very much in love with her husband.
Emilia (mezzo-soprano)- Iago's wife, one of Desdemona's ladies-in-waiting.
Cassio (tenor)- Otello's friend and subordinate. He has just been promoted by Otello to the rank of lieutenant.
Roderigo (tenor)- A Venetian gentleman who is smitten with Desdemona.
Iago (baritone)- Otello's ensign (a military rank just below lieutenant). He is crafty, intelligent, evil-and determined to destroy Otello.
Montano (bass)- The previous Governor of Cyprus.
Lodovico (bass)- the Venetian ambassador.
Faust (tenor)—An old philosopher, frustrated by his life of science. He enters into a pact with the Devil, who promises him youth and pleasure in exchange for his soul.
Méphistophélès (bass)—The Devil; shrewd, conniving, and evil, he delights in destroying men.
Marguerite (soprano)—A beautiful, innocent, and spiritual young woman. She falls in love with Faust, and is almost destroyed by him.
Siébel (mezzo-soprano)—A simple and loyal young villager who has always loved Marguerite.
Valentin (baritone)—Marguerite’s brother, a quick-tempered soldier. He loves his sister and is killed while defending her honor.
Wagner (baritone)—A student and friend of Valentin.
Martha Schwerlein (mezzo-soprano)—Neighbor and companion to Marguerite.
Nabucco (Baritone) - King of Babylon who is bent on the genocide of the Hebrew people of Jerusalem.
Parsifal - (tenor) An orphan ignorant of his past, and even of his own name. His purity of heart enables him to fulfill the prophecies regarding the "innocent fool", redeeming and healing sinners.
Anne Trulove (soprano)—A pure and faithful young girl, deeply in love with her fiancée Tom Rakewell.
Baba the Turk (mezzo-soprano)—The bearded lady from a traveling circus. Tom marries her to prove that he is not a slave to reason or passion.
Mother Goose (mezzo-soprano)—The madam of a brothel.
Tom Rakewell (tenor)—Anne’s fiancé. Tom is a fundamentally good, but lazy young man, who is determined to live by his wits instead of working for a living.
Nick Shadow (bass)—A mysterious servant who appears to inform Tom that he has suddenly inherited a fortune from a forgotten rich uncle. A Mephistophelean character, he leads Tom on his descent into poverty and madness.
Trulove (bass)—Anne’s father. He attempts to help Tom secure a job as an accountant in London, but Tom politely refuses.
Sellem (tenor)—An auctioneer who sells off all of Tom’s possessions.
Keeper of the Madhouse (bass)—Guardian of London’s famous madhouse, Bedlam.
Timur (bass) - Father of the Unknown Prince, Calaf. A former King, robbed of his throne by his enemies, he is now an old man wandering in exile. Only one servant remains faithful to him: the slave girl Liù.
Aida (soprano): Ethiopian slave and daughter of Amonasro, the Ethiopian King; in love with Radames.
Amneris (mezzo-soprano): Daughter of the Egyptian Pharaoh, she is also in love with Radames.
Radames (tenor): Young Egyptian warrior in love with Aida.
Amonasro (baritone): Ethiopian King and Aida's father.
The Pharaoh (bass): Egyptian king and Amneris' father.
Ramfis (bass): high Egyptian priest of the goddess Isis.
Arabella (soprano) - Zdenka's sister, a charming Viennese debutante. She has several suitors, but dreams of meeting her soul mate. She is particularly taken with a handsome stranger she sees on the street.
Zdenka (soprano) - Arabella's younger sister, she has been raised as a boy to offset the expenses of a girl's wardrobe and lifestyle. Most outside the family know her as "Zdenko", a boy. She is in love with Matteo, one of Arabella's suitors.
Countess Adelaide Waldner (mezzo-soprano) - Arabella and Zdenka's mother. She is concerned over the family's dwindling finances, and hopes that Arabella will marry someone rich.
Count Theodor Waldner (baritone) - Adelaide's husband, Arabella and Zdenka's father. To solve his financial crisis, he sends Arabella's picture to an old wealthy friend of his, in hopes that he will want to marry her.
Mandryka (bass-baritone) - A landowner from Slovenia, and a nephew of an old friend of the Waldner family. He was enchanted by Arabella's picture and traveled to Vienna to meet her.
Matteo (tenor) - A young military officer who is smitten with Arabella. He treats "Zdenko" as a confidant and asks for help in courting Arabella, not realizing that "Zdenko" is really a girl.
The Music Man (Baritone) - the experienced, kindly music teacher of The Composer. He wants to help his young student's career as much as possible.
The Major Domo (Spoken Role) - the representative of the "wealthiest man in Vienna," at whose house the young composer's opera Ariadne auf Naxos is to be performed.
The Composer (Mezzo-soprano, a "trouser" role, i.e., a male character played by a woman) -a passionate young man. Sure of his talent, yet fragile and sensitive to criticism. His artistic ideals have yet to be tempered by real-life experience.
The Tenor (Bacchus) and the Prima Donna (Ariadne, Soprano) - the two stars of the young composer's opera. They are both conceited, self-centered artists, concerned only with their own careers.
Zerbinetta (Soprano) - the coquette-ish star of the Italian comedy that is also being presented for the wealthiest man in Vienna. She is a resourceful and charming woman.
The Wig-maker and the Dancing Master.
Harlequin, Scaramuccio, Truffaldino, and Brighella - the quartet of men who perform as Zerbinetta's comic suitors.
Naiad, Dryad and Echo - three nymphs in the opera.
A Lackey and an Officer ( only in the prologue)
Amelia (soprano) - Renato's wife. Amelia is torn between her duty to her husband and her love for his best friend, Riccardo. She consults Ulrica to find out how to rid herself of her illicit passion.
Ulrica (contralto) - A sorceress who reads palms. She advises Amelia how to suppress her forbidden love for Riccardo, and predicts Riccardo's assassination.
Oscar (soprano) - Riccardp's page. A cheeky youth, he does various errands and carries messages for the King.
Samuel (Counts de Horn) (bass) - Conspires with Tom and Renato to kill Roccardo. He charges that Riccardo murdered his brother.
Tom (Ribbing) (bass) - Conspires with Samuel and Renato to kill Riccardo. He alleges that Riccardo illegally confiscated his family's home.
Renato (Anckarström) (baritone) - Riccardo's secretary and trusted friend. He is loyal to Riccardo and warns him of a plot to assassinate him, until he discovers that Riccardo is in love with his wife Amelia. He joins Samuel and Tom in conspiring to murder Riccardo.
Riccardo (King Gustav III) (tenor)- King of Sweden. A jovial, benevolent ruler, Riccardo is in love with his best friend's wife, but does not want to besmirch her or her husband's honor. He laughs off various warnings of an assassination attempt, including a prophecy from the sorceress Ulrica.
Rosina (mezzo-soprano) – Young and beautiful, Rosina is trapped in the house of her guardian, Dr. Bartolo, who wants to marry her for her money.
Count Almaviva (tenor) – A rich and handsome young nobleman smitten with Rosina. Almaviva approaches Rosina in the guise of a poor student to make sure that she loves him for himself and not his title or money.
Figaro (baritone) – The town barber who always manages to be in the middle of whatever’s going on. He helps Almaviva devise a plan to take Rosina away from Dr. Bartolo.
Dr. Bartolo (bass) - Rosina's guardian, an old, jealous, greedy quack doctor who hopes to make a fortune by forcing his young ward to marry him. Knowing that Rosina hates him, Bartolo has imprisoned her inside his house. Don Basilio (bass) - Rosina's singing teacher and Bartolo's accomplice.
Fiorello (baritone) - A musician paid by Count Almaviva to serenade the lovely Rosina.
Seargent (tenor) - A policeman.
Ambrogio (tenor) - servant of Bartolo.
Berta (soprano) - servant of Bartolo.
Angelina, Cenerentola (Cinderella) of the title role. (Mezzo-Soprano)
Clorinda, a stepsister. (Soprano)
Tisbe, a stepsister. (Mezzo-Soprano)
Don Magnifico, their father. (Bass)
Don Ramiro, The Prince.
Dandini, his valet.
Alidoro, his tutor.
Servants, hall guests, courtiers
Lindorf /lin-dorf/ -- (baritone) A councilor of Nuremberg.
Andrès /awn-dress/ -- (tenor) A servant.
Hermann /air-mahn/ -- (baritone) A student.
Luther /lyu-tare/ -- (bass) An innkeeper.
Nathaniel /nah-tah-nee-el/ -- (tenor) A student.
Hoffman /off-mahn/ -- (tenor) A poet and storyteller.
Nicklausse /nee-close/ -- (mezzo-soprano) Hoffmann's friend.
Spalanzani /spah-lahn-zah-nee/ -- (tenor) An inventor.
Cochenille /cosh-nee-yuh/ -- (tenor) Spalanzani's servant.
Coppélius /co-pay-lee-yus/ -- (baritone) Spalanzani's rival.
Olympia /oh-lahm-pee-yah/ -- (soprano) A mechanical doll.
Giulietta /joo-lee-et-tah/ -- (soprano) A courtesan.
Schlemil /shlay-meel/ -- (bass) Giulietta's lover.
Pitichinaccio /pee-tee-kee-naht-cho/ -- (tenor) Another of Giulietta's admirers.
Dapertutto /dap-pair-too-toh/ -- (baritone) A magician.
Antonia /awn-toe-nee-ah/ -- (soprano) A singer who inherited her mother's weak heart.
Crespel /cress-pell/ -- (baritone) A councilor of Munich, Antonia's father.
Franz /frahntz/ -- (tenor) Crespel's hard-of-hearing servant.
Dr. Miracle /duck-tair mee-rah-kluh/ -- (baritone) An evil sorcerer.
Voice of Antonia's mother - sung by a mezzo-soprano
Stella /stell-ah/ -- (soprano) An opera singer in love with Hoffmann.
Ferrando (tenor) - A young military officer engaged to Dorabella. He and his friend Guglielmo make a bet with Don Alfonso that their sweethearts will remain faithful. As part of Don Alfonso's plan, Ferrando dresses as a dashing foreigner to woo Guglielmo's fiancé, Fiordiligi.
Guglielmo (bass) - A young military officer engaged to Fiordiligi. He and his friend Ferrando make a bet with Don Alfonso that their sweethearts will remain faithful. As part of Don Alfonso's plan, Guglielmo dresses as a dashing foreigner to woo Ferrando's fiancé, Dorabella.
Fiordiligi (soprano) - A lady of Ferrara. She is engaged to Guglielmo, and vows to stay true to him although her heart warms towards the handsome foreigner (Ferrando in disguise).
Dorabella (soprano) - A lady of Ferrara, Fiordiligi's sister. She is engaged to Ferrando, but she accepts a heart-shaped pendant from her foreign admirer (Guglielmo in disguise).
Don Alfonso (baritone) - A bachelor and friend of Ferrando and Guglielmo. He believes that all women are exactly alike in one respect: their affections are fickle and untrustworthy. He proposes a scheme to his two friends: for twenty-four hours they must do as he says; if by then he has not proved his philosophy, he loses the bet.
Despina (soprano) - Fiordiligi and Dorabella's maid. She takes the opposite point of view from Don Alfonso, believing that men are unfaithful and women should be prepared to respond in kind. Don Alfonso bribes her to be his partner in crime, and she aids him in his scheme.
Dr. Faust - a German scholar who makes a pact with the Devil in his quest for knowledge and power. He becomes a powerful magician and seduces many beautiful women, but instead of enjoying his decadent lifestyle, he is tormented by the pain of the people he has hurt.
Mephistopheles - the Devil, who makes a pact with Dr. Faust. Mephistopheles promises to grant Faust's wishes for knowledge and power, but only if after death Faust becomes his servant. Mephistopheles appears in various guises throughout the story.
Wagner - a student at the university where Faust teaches. He is Faust's pupil and serves as a kind of personal assistant.
Soldier - the brother of Gretchen, a young maiden whom Faust seduces and abandons. He hopes to find and punish the man who dishonored his sister.
Duchess of Parma - wife of the Duke of Parma. She runs off with Faust, who seduces her and then abandons her, leaving her pregnant with his child.
Three Students - These mysterious cloaked figures "from Cracow" give Faust the book of black magic that starts his adventure.
Elisabetta di Valois (soprano) - Daughter of the French king. He arranges her marriage first to Don Carlo and then to King Filippo II, in hopes that an alliance with the Spanish throne will end the war between their countries.
Princess Eboli (mezzo-soprano) - One of the ladies at the Spanish court. She is infatuated with Don Carlo.
Don Carlo (tenor) - Son of the Spanish king Filippo II and heir to the throne. He falls in love with his fiancée, Elisabetta of France, and is heartbroken when she is betrothed to his father. He and his best friend, Rodrigo, risk charges of treason to support the cause of Flemish independence.
Rodrigo, Marquis of Posa (baritone) - Like his best friend Don Carlo, Rodrigo supports the cause of Flemish independence. Filippo also enlists him to spy on Elisabetta and Carlo.
Filippo II (bass) - King of Spain. He is married to the French princess Elisabetta, but he suspects her of having an affair with his son.Holländer - According to folklore, a Dutch sea captain, Philip Vanderdecken, swore that in spite of the devil he would sail around the Cape of Good Hope, even if it took him forever. He was condemned to roam the seas for eternity, but would be allowed ashore every seven years to search for redemption. If he found a woman who would be faithful to him unto death, the curse would be broken.
Daland - a Norwegian sea captain, father of Senta. He hopes that she will make a prosperous match and provide him with a wealthy son-in-law.
Senta - Daland's daughter, courted by Erik. She is fascinated by the legend of the Dutchman, and believes that if she were ever to meet him, she would be the woman to break the curse.
Erik - huntsman who wants to marry Senta.
Norwegian sailors, Dutchman's ghost crew, village girls
Tatyana – (soprano) A country girl who enjoys the quiet joys of rustic life. She falls head over heels in love with Eugene Onegin, a sophisticated man, but he spurns her advances.
Olga – (mezzo-soprano) Tatyana’s sister and Lensky’s girlfriend. In fun, she flirts with Onegin at Tatyana’s party, only to arouse Lensky’s jealousy.
Madame Larina – (mezzo-soprano) Tatyana and Olga’s mother. Like Tatyana, she used to lose herself in girlish romantic daydreams. She tries to dissuade Olga, Onegin and Lensky from creating a scandal at Tatyana’s party.
Vladimir Lensky – (tenor) A poet in love with Olga and a friend to Onegin. When he sees Onegin flirting with Olga, Lensky challenges Onegin to a duel to redeem his honor.
Eugene Onegin – (baritone) A sophisticated, cosmopolitan man who inherits land near Madame Larina’s estate. He is charmed by Tatyana, but cannot offer her more than "a brother’s love". When Onegin idly flirts with Olga at Tatyana’s party, his friend Lensky challenges him to a duel.
Child (mezzo-soprano; trouser role) – A young boy of six or seven years old. His mother punishes him for his poor behavior by making him stay in his room until dinnertime. When he throws a tantrum, the inanimate objects in his room come to life and scold him for his disobedience.
Squirrel (mezzo-soprano) – The Squirrel escapes the Child’s room after spending years there in a cage. The Child bandages the Squirrel’s injured paw as a sign of repentance.
Black Cat (mezzo-soprano)
Armchair (bass) – A piece of furniture in the Child’s room, the Armchair refuses to be sat in by the naughty boy, and instead dances with another chair.
Sir John Falstaff – (Baritone) An overweight, drunken, conceited, bumbling, penniless knight who loves a good scheme almost as much as good food and drink.
Alice Ford – (Soprano) A good-looking, well-to-do townswoman. She’s the wife of Ford, mother of Nannetta—and the object of Falstaff’s false affection. Together with Meg she plans to teach Falstaff a lesson.
Meg Page – (Mezz-Soprano) A good humored, happily married woman who Falstaff tries to seduce for her money. She and Alice scheme to disgrace and humiliate the amorous Falstaff.
Mistress Quickly – (Contralto) The witty town gossip. She is the go-between in the merry wives’ plot against Falstaff, carrying messages between the two married ladies and the ridiculous knight.
Nannetta – (Soprano) The beautiful daughter of Alice and Ford, deeply in love with Fenton. Her father has promised her to the ridiculous old Dr. Caius.
Fenton – (Soprano) A village teenager in love with Nannetta.
Ford – (Baritone) Alice’s husband and Nannetta’s father, a loving but jealous man. He is terrified that his wife will cuckold him with Falstaff, and has promised his daughter’s hand in marriage to Dr Caius—whether she likes it or not.
Dr. Caius – (Tenor) A phony doctor who Falstaff delights in outwitting. To pay Falstaff back for his pranks, Caius joins forces with the jealous Ford—and plans to marry the lovely Nannetta in the process.
Bardolfo – (Tenor) One of Falstaff’s lackeys and drinking buddies. When Falstaff vows to stop paying for Bardolfo’s food and drink, Bardolfo joins the plot against his patron.
Pistola – (Bass) One of Falstaff’s lackeys and drinking buddies. When Falstaff offends him, Pistola informs Ford of the knight’s plans to seduce Alice.Figaro - (baritone) Barber, valet to Count Almaviva, engaged to Susanna.
The Countess - (soprano) The Countess Almaviva (first name Rosina, from The Barber of Seville), married to the Count. She is still in love with her husband, although she knows he plans to cheat on her.
Count Almaviva - (baritone) Employer of Figaro and Susanna; although he was once deeply in love with his wife the Countess, he is now pursuing Figaro's fiance Susanna.
Susanna - (soprano) The Countess' witty and beautiful personal maid, engaged to Figaro.
Cherubino - (mezzo-soprano) A flirtatious teenage page.
Doctor Bartolo - (bass) Once the Countess' guardian, he harbors a grudge against Figaro for helping the Count "steal" her away in The Barber of Seville.
Marcellina - (soprano) Has made a bizarre contract with Figaro; he must marry her if he cannot repay his loan.
Don Basilio - (tenor) A gossipy music teacher.
Don Curzio - (tenor) A lawyer, evidently hired to add legal authority to Marcellina's contract with Figaro.
Antonio - (bass) The Count's gardener.
Barbarina - (soprano) Antonio's daughter and Susanna's cousin, a cute teenage girl.Empress – (soprano) A daughter of the spirit ruler Keikobad, she first appears to the Emperor as a gazelle. When he wounds her in the hunt, she becomes a woman, but is not truly mortal because she casts no shadow.
The Wife – (soprano) Wife of Barak the fabric dyer. Her dissatisfaction with her current life and the Nurse’s temptations cause her to long for a life filled with love and pleasure. The Nurse bargains to get the Wife’s shadow for the Empress.
Nurse – (mezzo-soprano) A malevolent spirit in human guise. The Nurse despises mortals, but will deal with them to help the Empress get a shadow.
Falcon – (soprano) A son of the spirit ruler Keikobad. The Emperor uses the Falcon during his daily hunts, and the Falcon leads the Emperor to the Empress.
Emperor of the Southeastern Islands – (tenor) He marries Keikobad’s daughter after wounding her during a hunt. If his wife does not gain a shadow, he will be turned to stone.
Barak – (baritone) A dyer of fabrics, Barak is disappointed that he and his wife have no children.
Three Norns - daughters of Erda.
Gunther - head of the Gibich clan.
Gutrune - Gunther's sister.
Hagen - Gunther's half-brother
Waltraute - A Valkyrie
Gods and Goddesses:
Wotan – ruler of the gods; gave up his one eye to woo Fricka, his wife.
Fricka – Wotan’s wife; goddess of marriage and family; sister to Freia.
Brünnhilde – eldest Valkyrie, daughter of Wotan and Erda. She has eight Valkyrie sisters.
Freia – goddess of youth and beauty; her golden apples keep the gods young and beautiful.
Donner – god of thunder; he summons the mists which create the rainbow bridge.
Froh – brother to Donner, Freia, and Fricka.
Loge – god of fire and trickery; his cunning frees Freia from the giants.
Erda – wise goddess of the earth; she warns Wotan to give up the ring.
Mortals:
Sieglinde – Wälsung, mortal daughter of Wotan.
Siegmund - Sieglinde's twin brother
Hunding - Sieglinde's husband
Giants:
Fasolt and Fafner – they built Valhalla for Wotan in exchange for Freia; they agree to accept gold instead.
Rheinmaidens:
Woglinde,Wellgunde, and Flosshilde - The three nymphs who guard the Rheingold and are pursued by Alberich.
Nibelungen:
Alberich – steals the Rheingold and uses its power to force the other Nibelungen into his service.
Mime – one of the Nibelungen, a blacksmith who makes the Tarnhelm for Alberich.
Hansel (mezzo-soprano; trouser role) – A young boy who lives with his sister and parents in a cottage in the woods. He cleverly figures out how to escape from the witch.
Gretel (soprano) – Hansel’s sister. She follows Hansel’s advice to free them both from the evil witch.
The Witch (tenor/mezzo-soprano) – An evil old woman who lives deep in the forest. She captures Hansel and Gretel, puts a spell on them, and intends to bake them in her magic oven.
Mother (Gertrude) (soprano) – Hansel and Gretel’s mother. She sends them out of the forest to collect berries for dinner, and is frantic when she realizes that they might be lost.
Father (Peter) (baritone) – Hansel and Gretel’s father, a maker and seller of brooms. He is distraught when he learns that his wife sent the children off alone into the strange forest.
Sandman (soprano; trouser role) – A mysterious old man who sprinkles Hansel and Gretel with a magic dust, making them sleepy.
Dew Fairy (soprano) – She sprinkles the children with dew to wake them after a night of refreshing sleep.
Ilia (soprano) – A Trojan princess held captive on the island of Crete. She has fallen in love with the Cretan king’s son, Idamante, but is torn between this love and love of her country.
Elettra (soprano) – A Greek princess, also in love with Idamante. She is jealous of Idamante’s feelings for Ilia, but believes that if she could only get him alone, she would make him fall in love with her.
Idomeneo (tenor) – King of the Greek island of Crete. During a storm at sea, he vows to Neptune that if his ship is spared, he will sacrifice the first person he meets on shore. He is heartbroken when the first person to greet him on shore is his son, Idamante.
Idamante (tenor/soprano) – Idomeneo’s son, who is in love with Ilia. Idamante does not understand why his father avoids him and is so emotionally distant. This role was originally written for a castrato, but nowadays is usually performed by a countertenor or soprano.
Arbace (tenor) – The king’s trusted advisor. Arbace serves both as a confidant of the king and as a messenger of news throughout the opera.
Isabella (mezzo-soprano) - Feisty and resourceful Italian woman. She is engaged to Lindoro, but has to outwit the Bey Mustafà, who wishes to marry her.
Elvira (soprano) - Mustafà's wife. She loves her husband, but he wishes to banish her by marrying her to Lindoro.
Zulma (mezzo-soprano) - Elvira's slave. She tries to reconcile Elvira and Lindoro to the fact that Mustafà has ordered them to marry.
Lindoro (tenor) - Isabella's Italian fiancé. He has been kidnapped by pirates and brought to Mustafà's court. Mustafà intends to use him as a way to get rid of his unwanted wife; he wants Lindoro to marry Elvira. Lindoro is dismayed, because he is still in love with Isabella.
Taddeo (baritone) - An older man who is in love with Isabella. When they are captured by pirates, he escapes slavery by claiming to be her uncle. He maintains this identity when they are brought to Mustafà's court, and Mustafà makes him his personal bodyguard.
Mustafà (bass) - Bey of Algiers. He has tired of his wife and wants to put her away in favor of a young Italian woman. He rejoices when the pirates bring him Isabella but is thwarted by her cunning plans.
Haly (baritone) - Pirate captain. He is ordered to find an Italian woman for Mustafà.
Katerina Ismailova /cat-er-ee-nah ees-mile-oh-fah/ - (soprano) Zinovy's wife.
Boris Ismailov /bore-iss ees-mile-off/ - (bass) Zinovy's father, a merchant.
Zinovy Ismailov /zheen-oh-vee ees-mile-off/ - (tenor) Katerina's husband, a merchant.
Sergei /sehr-gee/ - (tenor) A farm worker and Katerina's lover.
Aksinya /ak-sin-ya/ - (soprano) Cook in the Ismailov household.
Sonyetka /soan-yet-kah/ - (mezzo-soprano) A convict who flirts with Sergei.
Priest (bass)
Police Sargeant (bass)
Old Convict (bass)
Lucia: Lucia of Lammermoor is the sister of Enrico. She is in love with her brother's rival, Edgardo, but is forced to marry Arturo against her will.
Enrico: Enrico of Lammermoor is Lucia's brother. He has defeated Edgardo, winning control over the Ravenswood estates. To restore his waning power, he forces Lucia to marry against her will.
Edgardo: Edgardo of Ravenswood has recently lost control of his family's estates to the Lammermoors. He is in love with Lucia and will do anything to marry her.
Arturo: Arturo is a member of the Bucklaw family, and has agreed to marry Lucia in order to unite with the Lammermoor family.
Raimondo: Lucia's tutor.
Normanno: Follower of Enrico.
Luisa (soprano) - Daughter of the old soldier, Miller. She is in love with Carlo, who is actually Rodolfo.
Duchess Federica (mezzo-soprano) - A widow who hopes to marry Rodolfo, whom she has loved since childhood.
Rodolfo (tenor) - Son of Count Walter. He is in love with Luisa, but betrothed to Duchess Federica.
Miller (baritone) - An old soldier. Luisa's father.
Wurm (bass) - Works for Count Walter and loves Luisa, hoping to marry her.
Count Walter (bass) - Rodolfo's father. He wants Rodolfo to marry Duchess Federica.
Lulu (Soprano) - A beautiful dancer who exerts a nearly hypnotic effect on the men she encounters. She has no morals and her various relationships leave pain and chaos in their wake. Although her situation constantly worsens, she always has another admirer waiting to bail her out.
Countess Geschwitz (Mezzo-soprano) - A lesbian who is infatuated with Lulu. She hatches a brave plan to break Lulu out of jail. This involves the two of them trading places in the prison hospital. The plan requires Geschwitz to infect herself with cholera, a sacrifice that demonstrates the depth of her feeling for Lulu.
Dr. Schön (Baritone) - Lulu's benefactor, lover, and eventually husband. He rescued Lulu from life on the street when she was twelve, and although he tries to break free of his obsession, he cannot resist her.
Alwa (Tenor) - Dr. Schön's son. He, too, is completely spellbound by Lulu, even though she is connected with the deaths of his parents. He accompanies her to Paris and then to London, faithful through all her misfortunes.
Schigolch (Bass) - An old man whom Schön names as Lulu's father, a charge he denies.
Cio-Cio-San (CHO-cho-sahn), known as Butterfly, a young Japanese geisha.
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, an officer in the United States Navy.
Sharpless, the American Consul and friend of Pinkerton.
Suzuki (soo-ZOO-kee), Butterfly's maid.
The Bonze (BAHNZ), Butterfly's uncle, a Buddhist priest.
Goro (GOH-roh), a marriage broker.
Yamadori (yah-mah-DOH-ree), a Japanese nobleman.
Kate Pinkerton, Lieutenant Pinkerton's American wife.
Sorrow, Butterfly and Pinkerton's child.
Thérese/Tirésias — A perfect housewife (Thérese) who abandons her husband and housework to become a male general (Tirésias).
Husband — Thérese’s chauvenist husband. When his wife becomes a man, he learns to make thousands of children all by himself.
Policeman (Gendarme) — A policeman who loves flirting with pretty girls.
Journalist — From Paris, obnoxious and greedy.
Son — The Husband’s journalist son, made out of ink, scissors, glue and torn up paper. Reports false news and loves to blackmail.
Presto — A drunk. Violently belives he is in Zanzibar.
Lacouf — A drunk. Violently believes he is in Paris.
Director — The stage Director of the opera, a fervent believer in healing the wounds of war by making more children.
A Newspaper Seller — A woman in a kiosk.
A Big Heavy Woman
A Bearded Gentleman
Manon (Soprano) - A coquettish young girl whose doomed love for Le Chevalier des Grieux motivates the Opera.
Le Chevalier des Grieux (Tenor) - A young noble who falls desperately in love with Manon against his father's wishes.
Lescaut (Baritone) - Manon's cousin, whose responsibility is to watch over her but he spends more time at the gambling table with his ever-changing love interest.
Le Comte des Grieux (Bass) - The young Chevalier's father who is strongly against the marriage of his son and Manon and goes to great lengths to keep the couple apart.
Guillot de Morfontaine (Tenor) and De Brétigny ( Baritone) - Two noblemen who compete for the affections of Manon.
Rosette, Poussette, Javotte (Soprano) - Three young actresses who are constantly flirting with Guillot.
Mélisande, girl with long hair who marries Golaud. (Soprano)
Yniold, Golaud's son by his first marriage. (Boy Soprano)
Geneviève, mother of Pelléas and Golaud. (Alto)
Pelléas, King Arkel's grandson. (Baritone)
Golaud, King Arkel's grandson. Mélisande is his second wife. (Bass)
Arkel, King of Allemonde. (Bass)
Hanna Glawari, the Merry Widow of the title.
Valencienne, wife of Baron Zeta, also having an affair with Camille.
Count Danilo Danilovich, Pontevedrian patriot.
Camille de Rosillon, diplomatic attaché.
Baron Mirko Zeta, Pontevedrian Ambassador to Paris.
Viscount Cascada.
Raoul de St. Brioche.
Njegus, Baron Zeta's aide.
Grisettes, Parisian and Pontevedrian aristocracy, musicians, servants
Gods and Goddesses:
Wotan - ruler of the gods; gave up his one eye to woo Fricka, his wife.
Fricka - Wotan's wife; goddess of marriage and family; sister to Freia.
Freia - goddess of youth and beauty; her golden apples keep the gods young and beautiful.
Donner - god of thunder; he summons the mists which create the rainbow bridge.
Froh - brother to Donner, Freia, and Fricka.
Loge - god of fire and trickery; his cunning frees Freia from the giants.
Erda - wise goddess of the earth; she warns Wotan to give up the ring.
Giants:
Fasolt and Fafner - they built Valhalla for Wotan in exchange for Freia; they agree to accept gold instead.
Rheinmaidens:
Woglinde,Wellgunde, and Flosshilde - The three nymphs who guard the Rheingold and are pursued by Alberich.
Nibelungen:
Alberich - steals the Rheingold and uses its power to force the other Nibelungen into his service.
Mime - one of the Nibelungen, a blacksmith who makes the Tarnhelm for Alberich.
Octavian Rofrano, or Count Rofrano, is a young nobleman. Although at first he is involved with the Marschallin, he falls in love with a girl closer to his own age, Sophie von Faninal. (Mezzo-soprano)
The Marschallin, the field marshal's wife (he never appears onstage). She is a member of the nobility and also has the title "Princess von Werdenberg". When the opera begins, she is in love with a younger man, Octavian. (Soprano)
Sophie von Faninal, young bourgeoise, and daughter of Faninal. (Soprano)
Marianne Leitmetzerin, Sophie's nurse. (Soprano)
Baron Ochs von Lerchenau, Marschallin's bumbling country cousin. He has horrible manners and flirts with every girl he sees, including "Mariandel", who is really Octavian in disguise! Baron Ochs is engaged to Sophie von Faninal. (Bass)
Mariandel, the Marschallin's maid, is actually Octavian disguised as a girl! Octavian dresses up as Mariandel to fool Baron Ochs, the Marschallin's cousin.
Faninal, Sophie's father, wealthy merchant who has recently been admitted to the nobility. He is anxious to see his daughter married to Baron Ochs von Lerchenau. (Baritone)
Annina, Italian intriguer. (Mezzo-soprano)
Valzacchi, Annina's accomplice. (Tenor)
Italian Singer (Tenor)
Majordomo, innkeeper, servants, merchants, children, doctor, police
Wanderer - Wotan in disguise.
Dragon - Fafner in disguise.
Forest Bird
Gods and Goddesses:
Wotan - ruler of the gods; gave up his one eye to woo Fricka, his wife.
Fricka - Wotan's wife; goddess of marriage and family; sister to Freia.
Brünnhilde - eldest Valkyrie, daughter of Wotan and Erda. She has eight Valkyrie sisters.
Freia - goddess of youth and beauty; her golden apples keep the gods young and beautiful.
Donner - god of thunder; he summons the mists which create the rainbow bridge.
Froh - brother to Donner, Freia, and Fricka.
Loge - god of fire and trickery; his cunning frees Freia from the giants.
Erda - wise goddess of the earth; she warns Wotan to give up the ring.
Mortals:
Siegfried - son of Siegmund and Sieglinde.
Sieglinde - Wälsung, mortal daughter of Wotan.
Siegmund - Sieglinde's twin brother
Hunding - Sieglinde's husband
Giants:
Fasolt and Fafner - they built Valhalla for Wotan in exchange for Freia; they agree to accept gold instead.
Rheinmaidens:
Woglinde,Wellgunde, and Flosshilde - The three nymphs who guard the Rheingold and are pursued by Alberich.
Nibelungen:
Alberich - steals the Rheingold and uses its power to force the other Nibelungen into his service. Mime's brother.
Mime - one of the Nibelungen, a blacksmith who makes the Tarnhelm for Alberich. Alberich's brother.
Sly (tenor) - A tavern singer and comic drunkard who secretly longs for the stability of a happy home.
John Plake (baritone) - An actor and one of Sly's drinking buddies. Eloquent, mischievous, and full of himself.
Snare (bass) - The sheriff's agent, determined to arrest Sly for debt.
Dolly (soprano) - The Earl's lover. Beautiful and rich, but utterly bored of court life. She longs for true love.
Earl of Westmoreland (baritone) - A rich, snobby, practical joker in love with Dolly.
Isolde (Soprano)- Proud Irish princess, skilled in herbs and magic. When the opera begins she is being taken against her will to marry old King Marke. She has mixed feelings about her escort, Tristan: she once nursed him back to health after a battle, not realizing that he had killed her fiancé.
Tristan (Tenor)-King Marke's nephew, a brave knight. When the opera begins he is escorting Isolde to her forced marriage with King Marke.
Brangäne (Mezzo-Soprano)-Isolde's attendant. She shares her mistress' knowledge of magical potions-and uses it to make Tristan and Isolde fall desperately in love with eachother.
Kurwenal (Baritone)-Tristan's fellow knight and devoted best friend.
King Marke (Bass)-King of Cornwall.
Melot (Tenor)-A member of King Marke's court. He is jealous and suspicious of Tristan.
Natasha Rostova (soprano) – A young girl of a modest family who gets engaged to Prince Andrei Bolkonsky. When her future father-in-law snubs her, she risks scandal by planning to elope with Count Anatol Kuragin, a married man.
Sonya(mezzo-soprano) – Natasha’s cousin. She warns Natasha that Anatol is untrustworthy, and informs Natasha’s godmother of the elopement plans.
Hélène Bezukhova (mezzo-soprano) – Pierre’s wife and Anatol’s sister. Her glamor and sophistication impress everyone, but some disapprove of her somewhat loose morals.
Maria Akhrosimova (contralto) – Natasha’s godmother. Natasha and Sonya stay with her in Moscow. When Sonya informs Maria of Natasha’s plans to elope with Anatol, Maria pleads with Pierre to help avert a scandal.
Count Pierre Bezukhov (tenor) – Hélène’s husband. He is disgusted with his wife and brother-in-law’s shallowness, and promises Maria to try to prevent a scandal. He is captured by the French during the war.
Count Anatol Kuragin (tenor) – Hélène’s brother. He is infatuated with Natasha and makes plans to elope with her, even though he is already married.
Prince Andrei Bolkonsky (baritone) – He is enchanted by Natasha’s youthful charm and optimism. He gets engaged to her, but her scandalous plans to elope with Anatol ruin his dreams of happiness. During the war he leads his own betallion of men into battle.
Prince Nikolai Bolkonsky (bass) – Andrei’s father. Prince Nikolai believes that Andrei will be marrying beneath the family if he marries Natasha, and he snubs her when she calls at their home.
Mario Cavaradossi (tenor) - A painter, he is in love with Floria Tosca. He is a friend of Angelotti.
Floria Tosca (soprano) - A famous singer, she is in love with Cavaradossi, but forever suspicious of him.
Baron Scarpia (baritone) - Chief of the secret police. He is evil and wants Tosca for himself.
Cesare Angelotti (bass) - A liberal political prisoner and friend of Cavaradossi. His escape from prison sparks the story of Tosca.
Gods and Goddesses:
Wotan - ruler of the gods; gave up his one eye to woo Fricka, his wife.
Fricka - Wotan's wife; goddess of marriage and family; sister to Freia.
Brünnhilde - eldest Valkyrie, daughter of Wotan and Erda. She has eight Valkyrie sisters.
Freia - goddess of youth and beauty; her golden apples keep the gods young and beautiful.
Donner - god of thunder; he summons the mists which create the rainbow bridge.
Froh - brother to Donner, Freia, and Fricka.
Loge - god of fire and trickery; his cunning frees Freia from the giants.
Erda - wise goddess of the earth; she warns Wotan to give up the ring.
Mortals:
Sieglinde - Wälsung, mortal daughter of Wotan.
Siegmund - Sieglinde's twin brother
Hunding - Sieglinde's husband
Giants:
Fasolt and Fafner - they built Valhalla for Wotan in exchange for Freia; they agree to accept gold instead.
Rheinmaidens:
Woglinde,Wellgunde, and Flosshilde - The three nymphs who guard the Rheingold and are pursued by Alberich.
Nibelungen:
Alberich - steals the Rheingold and uses its power to force the other Nibelungen into his service.
Mime - one of the Nibelungen, a blacksmith who makes the Tarnhelm for Alberich.
Tamino (tenor) - An Egyptian prince who is enlisted by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter, Pamina. He falls in love with a portrait of Pamina and uses his magic flute to triumph over obstacles.
Papageno (baritone) - A bird catcher for the Queen of the Night, Papageno is a simple, jovial man, who only desires food, drink, and a wife of his own. He joins Tamino in his quest to save Pamina.
Pamina (soprano) - Daughter of the Queen of the Night. She is being held prisoner by the evil Monostatos. She falls in love with Prince Tamino.
Queen of the Night (soprano) - Pamina's mother, the Queen asks Prince Tamino and Papageno to rescue her daughter. Her attendants give Tamino a magic flute and Papageno a magic glockenspiel to aid them in their quest.
Sarastro (bass) - The high priest of Isis and Osiris, and Pamina's father. He invites Tamino and Papageno to prove their worth through a series of tests; if they pass, they will be rewarded with brides.
Monostatos (tenor) - An evil Moor who has evil intentions towards Pamina.
Papagena (soprano) - A bird.
Pauline - (soprano) The General's ward. She is in love with the tutor, Alexei, and owes sizable gambling debts to the Marquis. She gives her jewelry to Alexei to pawn so that he can win money to repay her debts.
Alexei - (tenor) Tutor for the General's children. He is in love with Pauline, and his willingness to do anything for her brings the threat of scandal on the General's family. Like the other characters in the story, he is a somewhat reckless gambler.
The General - (bass) Pauline's legal guardian, the General is a middle-aged man enamoured of the young opportunist Blanche. The General is very concerned that scandal and his own debts might prevent him from winning Blanche.
Blanche - (alto) A young lady of the demi-monde, Blanche at first seems interested in the General, but is then wooed away by Prince Nilsky.
Grandma - (mezzo-soprano) Pauline's grandma from Moscow, and also the General's rich aunt. The family members are all waiting for her to die so that they can gamble with their inheritance. Although she is reported to be ill, she joins them at the spa in perfect health and ready to gamble.
The Marquis - (tenor) An insidious and dishonest man, the Marquis has made loans to both Pauline and the General and is pressuring them to repay him.
FRENCH MANAGER
CHINESE CONJURER - produces an egg from his sleeve, swallows it and retrieves it from his toes…
AMERICAN MANAGER
LITTLE AMERICAN GIRL - periles of Pauline, Mary Pickford, steamboat ragtime, jumping on a train…
MANAGER IN BLACKFACE
ACROBATS
HORSE
Gilda (soprano) - Rigoletto's daughter, a pious young girl who only leaves her house to go to church. The Duke has fallen in love with her.
Maddalena (mezzo-soprano) - Sparafucile's sister, a woman of loose morals.
Giovanna (mezzo-soprano) - Gilda's nurse and Rigoletto's housekeeper. An elderly woman, she is easily bribed by the Duke to keep his presence in the garden unknown.
Duke of Mantua (tenor) - A handsome, wealthy, charming, and selfish ladies' man.
Rigoletto (baritone) - The hunchbacked jester of the Duke's court. He hates the Duke and his depraved courtiers; the only joy in his life is his daughter Gilda.
Sparafucile (bass) - A hired assassin who operates from a tavern on the outskirts of town.
Ceprano (bass) - A member of the Duke's court. He endures Rigoletto's mockery when the Duke pursues his wife.
Count Monterone (bass) - A courtier whose daughter is seduced by the Count. Mercilessly teased by Rigoletto, Monterone places a curse on the jester.
Eva Pogner - (soprano) Daughter of Pogner, a goldsmith. She is in love with Walther von Stolzing, but her father has promised her hand in marriage to whomever wins the mastersinger contest.
Magdalene - (mezzo-soprano) Eva's young housekeeper and David's girlfriend. She helps shield Eva from Beckmesser's unwanted attention.
Walther von Stolzing - (tenor) A young knight who is smitten with Eva Pogner. A gifted poet and composer, he tries to become a mastersinger, but his first attempt is denied when he breaks too many composing rules. He is befriended and aided by Hans Sachs.
Hans Sachs - (baritone) A middle-aged widower, Sachs works as a cobbler and also belongs to the mastersinger guild. He defends Eva's right to choose her husband and Walther's efforts at song composition, and is instrumental in solving their problems.
David - (tenor) David is apprenticed to Sachs, learning about both the cobbler trade and singing. He is Magdalene's sweetheart, and starts a street brawl when he thinks Beckmesser has been flirting with her.
Sixtus Beckmesser - (baritone) The town clerk and a jealous, curmudgeonly man. Beckmesser serves as the "Marker"for Walther's audition (keeping track of his mistakes), but often has trouble composing himself. He tries to win over Eva by serenading her, not realizing that it is actually Magdalene in disguise.
Rachel (soprano)-Éléazar's beautiful daughter. She is in love with a man she knows only as 'Samuel', a Jewish painter.
Princess Eudoxie (soprano)-The Emperor's niece, engaged to Prince Léopold.
Éléazar (tenor)-A Jewish goldsmith. He was once expelled from Rome by Cardinal de Brogni, and has carried a grudge against the man ever since. When the Cardinal's home burned down, Éléazar rescued his baby daughter and secretly raised her as his own. Not even the girl knows her true identity.
Léopold (tenor)-A prince of the Holy Roman Empire. He has disguised himself as a Jewish painter in order to court the lovely Rachel-even though he could be killed if their affair is discovered.
Ruggiero (baritone)-The city provost of Constance.
Albert (baritone)-Seargent in the emperor's army.
Cardinal de Brogni (bass)-President of the Council of Constance, a very powerful man. He was once a secular magistrate, and in that capacity banished Éléazar from Rome. Brogni joined the church after losing his wife and entire family in a tragic fire.
Moses (speaking role) - A prophet rigidly dedicated to his vision of an inexpressible God. Since Moses cannot speak well, his brother Aron communicates his ideas to their fellow Israelites.
Aron (tenor) - Moses' brother and spokesman. He argues that the people cannot understand the entirety of Moses' vision; they must be given signs and simple explanations to help them approach the truth.
Young Girl (soprano)
Invalid Woman (Contralto)
Young Man (Tenor)
Naked Youth (Tenor)
Another Man (Baritone)
Ephraimite (Baritone)
Priest (Bass)
Teresa (Soprano) - Balducci’s beautiful young daughter. She has been promised to the sculptor Fieramosca, but is in love with Cellini.
Ascanio (Mezzo-Soprano) - Cellini’s trusty apprentice.
Benvenuto Cellini (Tenor) - A great artist and goldsmith. A true Renaissance man, he loves adventures, fights, and wine-and is capable of standing his ground even against the Pope.
Francesco (Tenor) - An artisan.
Fieramosca (Baritone) - The Pope’s official sculptor, a foolish and cowardly man.
Pompeo (Baritone) - Fieramosca’s friend, a swordsman.
Pope Clement VII (Bass) - Spiritual and temporal ruler of Rome. His love of art makes him indulgent towards artists like Cellini.
Balducci (Bass) - The Papal treasurer and Teresa’s father, a miserly old man.
Bernardino (Bass) - An artisan
Werther (tenor) - A sensitive and impressionable young poet with a fiery nature.
The Bailiff (bass) - Loving father of Charlotte and her nine younger sisters and brothers. He is an important figure in the town.
Charlotte (mezzo-soprano) - A beautiful young woman with a calm and charming nature. After her mother died, she took charge of her many younger brothers and sisters.
Sophie (soprano) - Charlotte’s giddy teenage sister. She is attracted to Werther.
Albert (baritone) - Charlotte’s fiancé, a tactful and sensitive young man.
Schmidt (tenor), and Johann (bass) - Merry friends of the Bailiff who love to get drunk.
Boris Godunov (bass) - Tsar of Russia. He came to the throne by killing the young son of Ivan the Terrible; however, he feels uneasy and guilty about his success.
Xenia (soprano) - Boris’s lovely young daughter.
Fyodor (mezzo-soprano) - Boris’s young son, heir to his father’s throne.
Nurse (contralto) - Takes care of Fyodor and Xenia, the royal children.
Prince Vassili Shuysky (Tenor) - A wily Prince. He is one of the Tsar’s most powerful advisors—but the Tsar does not trust him.
Grigori (tenor) - A fugitive monk who poses as Dmitry, the murdered Tsarevitch (Tsar’s son).
Simpleton (tenor) - A holy fool, allowed by Russian custom to speak his mind without fear of retribution.
Andrei Shchelkalov (baritone) - Clerk of the boyar’s council.
Pimen (bass) - An old monk. He witnessed the murder of Tsarevitch Dmitry.
Marina Mniszek (soprano) - An ambitious Polish princess who hopes to win the throne of Russia by marrying the false Dmitry.
Rangoni (bass) - A jesuit aquaintance of Marina Mniszek.
Varlam (bass) - Wandering monk.
Missail (tenor) - Wandering monk.
Innkeeper (soprano) - The keeper of a country inn near the Lithuanian border.
Krushchyov (tenor) - A boyar.
Lavitsky (bass) - Jesuit
Chernikovsky (bass) - Jesuit.
Lisa (soprano)- The rich and romantic granddaughter of the old Countess. She is engaged to Prince Yeletsky, whom she admires but does not love, and is the object of Ghermann’s affection, a man she fears but is romantically intrigued by.
Masha (soprano)- Lisa's maid
Old Countess (mezzo-soprano)- Lisa’s grandmother, a conservative and cranky old woman. In her youth she was famous for her beauty and her extraordinary luck in cards—a talent that earned her the nickname “The Queen of Spades.”
Governess (mezzo-soprano)-Lisa’s tightly wound Governess.
Pauline (contralto)- Lisa’s companion, Pauline notices her friend’s sadness, though she is not privy to the details of her internal emotional dilemma.
Ghermann (tenor)- A handsome but poor young officer. He has fallen in love with Lisa from afar, but knows he cannot win her hand until he has won his fortune. An emotionally driven man, Ghermann becomes tragically consumed by his plan to win Lisa.
Tchekalinsky (tenor)- A young officer who, like Sourin, wonders about Ghermann's bizarre behavior.
Chaplitsky (tenor)- Proprietor of the gambling parlor frequented by Ghermann and his officer friends.
Count Tomsky (baritone)- Ghermann’s friend, he is the first to introduce Ghermann to the Countess’s secret of the cards, and the first to inspire Ghermann’s fateful plot.
Prince Yeletsky (baritone)- Lisa’s fiancé, Yeletsky is an army officer of high social status and, all in all, a great catch. He adores Lisa but, noting her unhappiness, fears unrequited love.
Sourin (bass)- A young officer who frequently notes Ghermann’s distraught state and speculates about Ghermann’s weird behavior.
Le Rossingol
The Nightingale (soprano) - An inconspicuous gray bird whose song moves all who hear it.
The Cook (mezzo-soprano) - The Emperor’s cook. She leads the Emperor’s court into the forest to find the famed Nightingale.
Death (alto).
The Fisherman (tenor) - A poor man who is treated to the Nightingale’s song.
The Emperor of China (baritone) - Rich and powerful, the Emperor can’t understand why the Nightengale does not want wealth or honor.
The Chamberlain (bass) - Honored member of the Emperor’s court.
The Bonze (bass) - Honored member of the Emperor’s court.
Oedipus Rex
Jocasta (mezzo-soprano) - Queen of Thebes. She is the wife of Oedipus—and, as she is about to discover, his mother.
Oedipus (tenor) - King of Thebes. Before becoming King, he killed an old man he met at a crossroads. That decision is about to come back to haunt him.
A Shepherd (tenor) - Long ago the Shepherd brought baby Oedipus, who had been found abandoned on a mountainside, to be raised at the court of Corinth’s King Polybus.
Creon (bass-baritone) - Jocasta’s brother. When the opera begins he has just returned from consulting the Oracle.
A Messenger (bass-baritone) - Appears to announce the death of King Polybus of Corinth.
Tiresias (bass) - An old, blind soothsayer.
Narrator (speaking role).
Salome (soprano)–The Princess of Judea and Herodias’ daughter.
Herodias (mezzo-soprano)–Salome’s mother and Herodes’ niece.
Page (contralto)-Herodes’ page.
Herodes (tenor)–The Tetrarch of Judea and Herodias’ husband. He lusts after his stepdaughter Salome, and is afraid of Jochanaan’s prophetic power.
Narraboth (tenor)–A young Syrian, captain of the palace guard. He has fallen in love with Salome from afar.
Jochanaan (baritone)–A prophet who has been imprisoned for opposing Herodias’s marriage to Herodes.
Duchess Elena (soprano) - A proud, rebellious, beautiful young woman. She is mourning the death of her brother Freidrich of Austria, who was killed by the French—and she is in love with Arrigo.
Ninetta (contralto) - Elena’s maid.
Arrigo (tenor) - A young Sicilian dedicated to the cause of liberating his country from French oppression.
Guido di Monforte (baritone) - French governor of Sicily. He is deeply hated by the Sicilian population.
Giovanni da Procida (bass) - A physician and Sicilian patriot. He has been working for years to rally foreign support for a Sicilian rebellion.
Bethune (bass) - French officer
Vaudemont (bass) - French officer
Tebaldo (tenor) - French solider
Roberto (bass) - French soldier
Danieli (tenor) - Sicilian
Manfredo (tenor) - Sicilian
Tannhäuser (tenor): A wandering knight and minstrel. He was once in love with Elisabeth, but recently spent time in the Venusberg, the magical pagan realm of the goddess of love.
Elisabeth (soprano): The pious niece of Landgrave Hermann. She was once in love with Tannhäuser.
Shepherd (soprano)
Venus (mezzo-soprano): The pagan goddess of love.
Biterolf (tenor): A hotheaded knight and participant in Landgrave Hermann’s singing contest.
Walther von der Vodelweide (tenor): A knight and participant in Landgrave Hermann’s singing contest.
Wolfram von Eschenbach (baritone): A pious knight, in love with Elisabeth but friend to Tannhäuser. He also participates in Landgrave Hermann’s singing contest.
Hermann (bass): Landgrave of Thuringia, patron of the arts.
The Kabanová family lives in a rigid world where everyone is at the mercy of the head of their family. Their town is home to two prominent and wealthy merchant families, the Kabanovs and the Dikojs.
Kát’a Kabanová (Soprano): Tichon’s wife. She is strong and beautiful, sensitive and passionate. She is deeply affected by Kabanicha’s constant criticism, and refuses to accept it. Her husband’s unwillingness to take her side hurts her deeply, and she thinks she may love Boris.
Marfa Ignatĕvna Kabanová (Kabanicha) (Soprano): Widow of a wealthy merchant and head of the Kabanov family. A rich and powerful woman, she demands that all members of her family obey and honor her, and never doubts that she is always right about everything.
Varvara (Mezzo-Soprano): The carefree, confident foster daughter of Kabanicha. She is in love, and having a reckless affair with, Váòa.
Glaša (Mezzo-Soprano): A servant in the Kabanov household.
Fekluša (Mezzo-Soprano): A servant in the Kabanov household
Boris Grigorjeviè (Tenor): Boris is an intelligent, handsome man who feels that he is wasting his youth in his uncle Dikoj’s miserable house. Although he longs to escape his small town, he is prevented from leaving by his uncle Dikoj, who controls his inheritance.
Váòa Kudrjáš (Tenor): A smart young man who works for Dikoj, interested in chemistry and electricity. He dreams of leaving for Moscow.
Tichon Ivanyè Kabanov (Tenor): Kabanicha’s son, deeply in love with his wife but terrified by his all-powerful mother. He is powerless to protect Kát’a from his mother’s constant abuse.
Kuligin (Baritone): A clockmaker, and friend to Kurjáš
Savĕl Prokofjeviè Dikoj (Bass): Dikoj is a firebreathing, no- nonsense buisnessman. He terrorizes his nephew and anyone else who will let him—but has a soft spot for Kabanicha.
Rodelinda (soprano): Bertardio’s wife and Queen of Lombardy. She grieves for her husband the King, who she believes to be dead.
Bertarido (countertenor): King of Lombardy, driven from his throne by Duke Grimoaldo. He is hiding in the crypt of the Lombard kings in hopes of one day reclaiming his throne and returning to his wife and son.
Eduige (alto): Bertarido’s ambitious sister. She hopes to marry Grimoaldo and share the throne with him.
Unulfo (alto) : A young nobleman. He becomes a counselor to Grimoaldo, but secretly remains loyal to his friend Bertarido, whom he knows to be alive.
Grimoaldo (tenor): The Duke who usurped the throne from King Bertarido. He attempts to marry Rodelinda in hopes of legitimizing his place on the throne.
Garibaldo (bass): The Duke of Turin. He helped Grimoaldo usurp the throne. Although he poses as Grimoaldo’s henchman, he acts in his own best interest.
Dalila (mezzo-soprano) – Samson’s ex-lover, a beautiful Philistine woman who hopes to use her allure to discover the secret of Samson’s strength.
Samson (tenor) – The leader of the Hebrews. He is incredibly strong, but has a weakness for Philistine women. Samson also has a secret: if he ever cuts his hair, God will rob him of his strength,
High Priest of Dagon (baritone) – The High Priest of the Philistines’ god Dagon. Frightened that Samson’s strength will inspire a revolt amongst the Hebrew slaves, he hopes to use Dalila to bring Samson to his knees.
Abimélech (bass) – The Philistine satrap (provincial governor) of Gaza. He condemns the Hebrews for refusing to accept Dagon as their god.
Old Hebrew (bass) – Leads the Hebrews in prayer and advises Samson to resist Dalila’s charms.
Tito (tenor) – Emperor of Rome. Kind and compassionate, he is capable of forgiving even those who conspire against him.
Vitellia (soprano) – Daughter of Aulus Vitellius, the former Emperor of Rome. She hopes to marry Tito and become Empress, but his plans to wed other women drive her to plot his murder.
Servilia (soprano) – Sesto’s sister. She is in love with Annio.
Sesto (mezzo-soprano) – Tito’s good friend, in love with Vitellia.
Annio (mezzo-soprano) – Sesto’s close friend, in love with Servilia.
Publio (bass) – Captain of the Guard. He is hard-hearted and determined to bring those who would threaten the Emperor to justice.
Cavalleria Rusticana
Turiddu /too-ree-doo/ -- (tenor) a young, ex-officer of the army who is rather fickle with women. Formerly in love with Lola, he wooed Santuzza. He has gone back to Lola, even though she is married, and Santuzza is pregnant.
Santuzza /sahn-toot'-sah/ -- (soprano) a woman in love with Turiddu, by whom she has become pregnant. Because of this she has been excommunicated by the Church and is shunned.
Alfio /ahl'-fee-o/ -- (baritone) the town carter and husband of Lola. While jealous by nature, he trusts in his wife's faithfulness.
Mama Lucia /mah-mah loo-chee'-ah/ -- (contralto) mother of Turiddu, she runs a small inn.
Lola /low-la/ -- (mezzo-soprano) the flirtatious wife of Alfio, with whom Turiddu is in love.
Pagliacci
Canio /kah'-nee-oh/ -- (tenor) the short-tempered, middle-aged leader of the actors. In the troupe's play he acts the role of Pagliaccio, the clown and betrayed husband.
Nedda /neh'-dah/ -- (soprano) Canio's young wife, who plays Pagliaccio's wife Columbina in the troupe's play. She has grown tired of Canio and their life of constant travel. She has fallen in love with Silvio, a young man from the village.
Tonio /to'-nee-oh/ -- (baritone) a bitter and angry hunchback who is tormented by his passion for Nedda. He acts the part of Taddeo, a servant, in the troupe's play.
Beppe /beh'-pay/ -- (tenor) an actor who plays the comic romantic part of Columbina's lover Arlecchino in the play.
Silvio /seel'-vee-o/ -- (baritone) a villager and Nedda's lover.
Clyde Griffiths (baritone): A young American man.
Hortense (soprano): A beautiful young maid.
Grace Marr (soprano): A worker at Samuel Griffiths’ factory.
Roberta Alden (soprano): A pretty worker at Samuel Griffiths’ factory—later, Clyde’s fiancée.
Bella Griffiths (soprano): Clyde’s cousin, daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth.
Elvira Griffiths (mezzo-soprano): Clyde’s mother, a missionary.
Elizabeth Griffiths (mezzo-soprano): Samuel’s wife.
Sondra Finchley (mezzo-soprano): A beautiful, wealthy woman. She is a close friend of the wealthy Griffiths family.
Young Clyde (boy soprano)
Samuel Griffiths (tenor): Clyde’s uncle, a wealthy industrialist.
Gilbert Griffiths (tenor): Clyde’s stuck-up cousin, son of Samuel and Elizabeth.
Reverend McMillan (tenor): A minister who visits Clyde before his execution.
Orville Mason (bass): District Attorney.
Marie (soprano): Wozzeck’s mistress and mother of their son. She loves her child unconditionally – but has a weakness for men in uniform.
Margret (contralto): Marie’s neighbor.
Andres (tenor): Wozzeck’s friend and fellow soldier.
The Captain (tenor): Captain of Wozzeck’s regiment.
The Drum-Major (tenor): A flashy ladies’ man and fellow soldier in Wozzeck’s regiment.
Wozzeck (baritone): A poor soldier.
The Doctor (bass): A quack who uses Wozzeck as a guinea pig in his outrageous experiments. His nickname is “Doctor coffin-nail.”
Adina (soprano): A beautiful, wealthy and fickle girl.
Gianetta (soprano): A young peasant girl.
Nemorino (tenor): A gullible, love-sick peasant, desperate to win Adina's love.
Belcore (baritone): A pompous sergeant stationed in Adina's village.
Doctor Dulcamara (bass): a traveling quack doctor who cons townspeople into believing in his magical elixirs.
Roxane (soprano): Cyrano’s beautiful cousin, in love with Christian.
Lise (soprano): Ragueneau’s wife.
La Duègne (mezzo-soprano): Roxane’s companion and chaperone.
Souer Marthe (mezzo-soprano): Nun at Roxane’s convent.
Cyrano (tenor): Captain of the Gascon Cadets. He is known for his bravery, eloquence, and large nose. He loves Roxane from afar.
Christian (tenor): Handsome new recruit in Cadets, in love with Roxane.
De Guiche (baritone): Commander of Cadets, a nobleman who despises Cyrano. He is also in love with Roxane.
De Valvert (baritone): A pompous nobleman.
Lignière (baritone): Cyrano’s friend, a drunkard with many enemies.
Ragueneau (baritone): A baker.
Carbon (baritone): Cyrano’s friend, Captain of his company.
Le Bret (bass baritone): Cyrano’s best friend and fellow member of the Cadets.
Juliette (soprano): Daughter of Capulet, a beautiful young maiden.
Stéphano (soprano): Roméo's page, a feisty young boy.
Gertrude (mezzo-soprano): Juliette's nurse and friend.
Roméo (tenor): Son of Montague, a dashing young man.
Tybalt (tenor): Juliette’s cousin.
Mercutio (baritone): Roméo's best friend.
Count Pâris (baritone): A rich friend of Tybalt, interested in Juliette.
Benvolio (baritone): Montague's nephew, one of Roméo's trusty friends.
Grégorio (baritone): Capulet's servant.
Frère Laurent (bass): A friar, and a friend of both Roméo and Juliette.
Count Capulet (bass): Head of the Capulet family.
Duke of Verona (bass)
Leonora di Vargas (soprano)—Daughter of the Marquis. A gentle woman who loves her father very much, but loves Don Alvaro even more.
Preziosilla (mezzo-soprano)—A young gypsy fortuneteller.
Curra (mezzo-soprano)—Leonora’s maid.
Don Alvaro (tenor)—Son of a traitor to the Spanish crown and an Incan princess, in love with Leonora.
Mastro Trabuco (tenor)—Peddler of cheap merchandise.
Don Carlo di Vargas (baritone)—Leonora’s brother, a proud, passionate young man.
Brother Melitone (baritone)—Friar at the monastery of Madonna degli Angeli.
Marquis of Calatrava (bass)—Leonora’s father, an arrogant Spanish lord obsessed with his reputation.
Padre Guardiano (bass)—Father Superior of the monastery of Madonna degli Angeli.
Maria (soprano)—Kochubei's daughter, in love with her godfather Mazeppa.
Lyubov (mezzo-soprano)—Kochubei's wife, Maria’s mother.
Andrei (tenor)—A young Cossack, desperately in love with Maria.
Iskra (tenor)—Governor of Poltava.
Mazeppa (baritone)—A greedy, ruthless and powerful Cossack Hetman (ruler).
Kochubei (bass)—A wealthy Cossack, old friend of Mazeppa.
Orlik (bass)—Mazeppa's evil henchman.
Norina (soprano)—A beautiful young widow, in love with Ernesto.
Ernesto (tenor)—Don Pasquale’s nephew, in love with his fiancée Norina.
Doctor Malatesta (baritone)—Friend of the Pasquale family. A witty and resourceful fellow who will go to great lengths to pull off a practical joke.
Notaro (bass/baritone)—Doctor Malatesta’s cousin Carlotto. He disguises himself as a notary to officiate at Don Pasquale’s fake wedding.
Don Pasquale da Corneto (bass)—A wealthy, stubborn old bachelor.
Elsa of Brabant: (soprano)—The lovely and pure daughter of the ruler of Brabant.
Ortrud: (mezzo-soprano)—Friedrich’s wife, a pagan sorceress. Daughter of the Prince of Friesland.
Friedrich of Telramund: (baritone)—The Count of Telramund, Elsa and Gottfried’s former guardian. Married to Ortrud.
Lohengrin: (tenor)—Son of Parsifal. Mysterious knight of the Holy Grail.
Heinrich : (bass)—King of Germany.
The King’s Herald: (bass)
Gottfried : (mute)—Elsa’s younger brother, trapped in the body of a swan by an evil spell.
Elvira (soprano): The daughter of Puritan leader Lord Walton, Elvira is in love with Arturo, a Cavalier. When she thinks that Arturo has run off with another woman, she becomes insane with grief.
Enrichetta (soprano): Now a prisoner of the Puritans, Enrichetta is the former Queen of England. Her late husband, Charles I, was beheaded when the Puritans overthrew the Stuarts—the royal family. The deposed Queen faces certain death at the hands of the Puritans if she cannot escape.
Arturo (tenor): A Cavalier (royalist), Arturo is in love with Elvira, and despite his political position was granted permission to marry her. Before he can, however, he risks everything to help the former Queen of England escape.
Bruno (tenor): A Puritan officer.
Riccardo (baritone): Riccardo is in love with Elvira, but she does not return his sentiments. Initially promised Elvira’s hand in marriage, Riccardo is enraged to learn of Arturo and Elvira’s engagement.
Lord Valton (bass): Elvira’s father and the commander of a Puritan garrison.
Giorgio (bass): A retired Puritan leader, Giorgio is Elvira’s uncle (Lord Valton’s brother). Giorgio acts as a second father to Elvira, convincing Lord Valton to allow her to marry the man she loves.
Princess Yueyang (soprano): The crippled daughter of Emperor Qin who is promised in marriage to General Wang Jong, but falls in love with Gao Jianli instead.
Shaman (mezzo-soprano): Mysterious and spiritual advisor to Emperor Qin.
Emperor Qin (tenor): The First Emperor of China, he orders Gao Jianli to compose an anthem to unify his country.
Gao Jianli (tenor): Gifted composer and childhood friend of Emperor Qin, he writes an anthem for the new Chinese empire and falls in love with Princess Yueyang.
Mother of Yueyang (mezzo-soprano): She strives to unite her family and encourages the Emperor and Princess to find the balance between love and their country.
General Wang Jong (bass): Sent by Emperor Qin, the General captures Gao Jianli, and as a reward, the Emperor promises Princess Yueyang’s hand in marriage.
Yin-Yang Master (tenor): Master of the ceremonies for the imperial court of the First Emperor.
Amelia Grimaldi (soprano): Originally named Maria after her mother, Amelia is Simon Boccanegra’s long lost daughter. She was adopted by the Grimaldi family to be their heir, and is Fiesco’s ward. Her true identity as a Boccanegra is not revealed until the middle of the opera.
Gabriele Adorno (tenor): A young, passionate nobleman who is initially aligned with Jacopo Fiesco in an attempt to overthrow the Doge. He is in love with Amelia Grimaldi.
Simon Boccanegra (baritone): A seafaring hero and Plebeian who becomes Doge of Genoa. He fathered an illegitimate child—Amelia— with Fiesco’s daughter.
Paolo Albiani (baritone): Formerly the political leader of the Plebeian Party, Paolo chooses Simon Boccanegra as the candidate for Doge of Genoa. He becomes a manipulative courtier in the service of the Doge and the Plebeian party.
Pietro (baritone): A leader in the Plebeian party who chooses Simon Boccanegra as the candidate for Doge of Genoa.
Jacopo Fiesco (bass): A Patrician. He forbids his daughter, Maria, to marry Simon Boccanegra and imprisons her in his palace where she dies of a broken heart. He disguises himself as a nobleman named Andrea, plotting revenge on Simon.
Aithra (soprano): A sorceress, and Poseidon’s lover. She takes pity on Menelas and Helena, deciding to use her magical powers to save their marriage.
Helena (soprano): Helen of Troy-the most beautiful woman in the world. She loves her husband, Menelas, despite being unfaithful to him during the Trojan War, and tries with Aithra’s help to win back his love.
Hermione (soprano): The daughter of Helen and Menelas. Menelas has been hiding Hermione from her mother ever since Helen ran off with Paris during the Trojan War.
The Omniscient Seashell (contralto): The prophetic voice of Poseidon’s palace. The seashell sits perched upon its tripod and shares its visions with Aithra.
Menelas (tenor): King of Sparta, and Helena’s jealous husband. Enraged by Helena’s infidelity, he tries to kill her twice before he is open to forgiveness.
Da-ud (tenor): Altair’s son. He falls madly in love with Helena at first sight.
Altair (baritone): Prince of the Mountains. He desires Helena and tries to use his princely power to obtain her.
Andrea Chénier (tenor) – A French poet passionately devoted to his country, yet saddened by the Revolution’s corrupt, murderous turn. He is in love with Maddalena.
Maddalena di Coigny (soprano) – A beautiful aristocrat who has been forced into hiding due to the Revolution. She loves Andrea Chénier.
Carlo Gérard (baritone) – A servant-turned-revolutionary who used to serve Maddalena’s family. He desires Maddalena.
Bersi (mezzo-soprano) – Maddalena’s maidservant.
Roucher (bass) – Andrea Chénier’s friend and compatriot.
L’Incroyable (tenor) – Gérard’s spy.
Giulio Cesare - (Contralto / Baritone) Emperor of Rome who defeats his rival Pompey the Great and falls in love with Lydia (Cleopatra in disguise)
Cleopatra - (Soprano) The Queen of Egypt who disguises herself as “Lydia” to seduce Giulio Cesare
Cornelia - (Contralto) Pompeo’s widow who is admired and pursued by both Tolomeo and Achille, but shows no interest in her suitors.
Sesto - (Soprano / Tenor) Cornelia’s Son who resolves to avenge his father’s death by killing Tolomeo
Tolomeo - (Contralto / Bass) King of Egypt, brother of Cleopatra who has Pompeo killed in order to find favor with Giulio Cesare. He falls in love with Cornelia and keeps her against her will.
Curio - (Bass) Roman tribune who wants to marry Cornelia
Nireno - (Contralto / Bass) Cleopatra’s confidant and advisor who keeps her informed and helps her with her disguise of “Lydia.”
Achille - (Bass) Tolomeo’s general who wants to kill Caesar and marry Cornelia as a reward
Orfeo - (Contralto) Grief-stricken at the loss of his wife, Euridice, he is granted permission by the gods to journey to the realm of the dead and bring her back to life.
Euridice – (Soprano) Orfeo’s wife who doubts her husband’s love as he struggles to free her from the dead.
Amore – (Soprano) The goddess of love who allows Orfeo to prove that love is stronger than death.
Tamino (tenor) - An Egyptian prince who is enlisted by the Queen of the Night to rescue her daughter, Pamina. He falls in love with a portrait of Pamina and uses his magic flute to triumph over obstacles.
Papageno (baritone) - A bird catcher for the Queen of the Night, Papageno is a simple, jovial man, who only desires food, drink, and a wife of his own. He joins Tamino in his quest to save Pamina.
Pamina (soprano) - Daughter of the Queen of the Night. She is being held prisoner by the evil Monostatos. She falls in love with Prince Tamino.
Queen of the Night (soprano) - Pamina's mother, the Queen asks Prince Tamino and Papageno to rescue her daughter. Her attendants give Tamino a magic flute and Papageno a magic glockenspiel to aid them in their quest.
Sarastro (bass) - The high priest of Isis and Osiris, and Pamina's father. He invites Tamino and Papageno to prove their worth through a series of tests; if they pass, they will be rewarded with brides.
Monostatos (tenor) - An evil Moor who has evil intentions towards Pamina.
Papagena (soprano) - Papageno's bride.
Il Tabarro
Giorgetta (Soprano)- Michele’s younger wife who is frustrated with the drab life on the barge and instead seeks romance and adventure.
Frugola (Mezzo-Soprano)- Talpa’s wife who dreams of a cottage where she and her husband can enjoy their remaining years together.
Michele (Baritone)- Owner of the barge and Giorgetta’s jealous husband. He hopes to rekindle their dwindling relationship.
Luigi (Tenor)- Stevedore on the barge and in love with Giorgetta.
Tinca (Tenor)- Stevedore on the barge, he laments that the there is no future for them only backbreaking work.
Talpa (Bass)- Stevedore on the barge and Frugola’s husband.
Suor Angelica
Suor Angelica (Soprano)- A sister in a convent outside of Florence. She is of noble birth and was sent to the convent after bearing a child out of wedlock.
Suor Genovieffa (Soprano)- A sister of the convent, she relishes in the spring sunshine and daydreams about her days as a shepherdess.
Abbess (Mezzo-Soprano)- The head of the convent, she informs Suor Angelica that the Princess requests a meeting with her.
Monitor (Mezzo-Soprano)- Oversees the other sisters in the convent, she warns them that personal desires are sinful.
Mistress of Novices (Mezzo-Soprano)- In charge of the novices, she revels in the beauty of the convent’s fountain.
Suor Dolcina (Mezzo-Soprano)- A sister of the convent, she is known for her sweet tooth.
The Princess (Contralto)- Suor Angelica’s aunt, she brings tragic news of Angelica’s child and requests that Angelica sign a document that will divide her family’s inheritance.
Gianni Schicchi
Gianni Schicchi (Baritone)- The father of Lauretta, he tricks Buoso Donati’s relatives into granting him the majority of the family’s inheritance.
Lauretta (Soprano)- The daughter of Gianni Schicchi and in love with Rinuccio. She is forbidden to marry him because she is lacking a proper dowry.
Buoso Donati’s Relatives:
Zita (Contralto)- Buoso Donati’s sister and the mother of Rinuccio, she refuses to allow her son to marry Lauretta.Maestro Spinelloccio (Bass)- Buoso Donati’s doctor who inquires on his patient’s condition and is fooled into thinking Donati is still alive.
Rinuccio (Tenor)- He is in love with Lauretta and hopes that his uncle’s inheritance will provide enough money for them to get married. He enlists the help of Gianni Schicchi to acquire the riches.
Gherardo (Tenor)- He inquires about the city’s funeral bill and realizes with relief that it is not for his uncle.
Nella (Soprano)- She tries to bribe Gianni Schicchi into granting her a larger share of the will.
Betto di Signa (Bass)- He is worried that his uncle left his inheritance to an order of monks.
Simone (Bass)- Agrees to let Gianni Schicchi to decide how to divide the will.
La Ciesca (Mezzo-Soprano)- She tries to bribe Gianni Schicchi into granting her a larger share of the will.
Ser Amantio di Nicolao (Baritone)- The city’s notary.
Iphigénie(soprano): High Priestess of Diane. Iphigénie is the sister of Elektra and Oreste, and the daughter of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. She is thought to be sacrificed by her father, yet has been kept alive.
Oreste(baritone): King of Argos and Mycenae, he is Iphigénie’s brother. To avenge his father’s death, he becomes a matricide. Imprisoned on the coast of the Black Sea in Tauride, he and his dear friend are subject to sacrifice.
Pylade(tenor): King of Phocis, Oreste’s best friend. He is also faced with death.
Thoas(bass): King of Tauride. To avoid his own death, foreseen in dreadful prognostication, he attempts to sacrifice all foreigners who arrive to his land.
Diane (soprano): Goddess of hunting. Rather than accepting Agamemnon’s sacrifice, Diane has brought Iphigénie to Thoas as her priestess.
Lady Macbeth (soprano): The manipulative wife of Macbeth, she plots murders with her husband.
Her Lady-in-Waiting (mezzo-Soprano): One of the many servants to Lady Macbeth.
Hecate, (dancer): The head goddess of witchcraft.
Macbeth (baritone): The title character, a general. After becoming the Thane of Cawdor, he sets his ambitions high for the throne of Scotland, leading to numerous murders.
Banquo (bass): A general and friend of Macbeth. He has been told that his descendents will be kings.
Fleance Mute: Banquo’s son.
Macduff (tenor): A Scottish nobleman. Macduff recognizes Macbeth and Lady Macbeth as viscous murderers.
Malcolm (tenor): The son of Duncan. After the murder of his father, he flees to England.
Physician (bass): The doctor to the Macbeth family, and a witness to Lady Macbeth’s demise.
Duncan (mute): The King of Scotland.
Manon Lescaut (soprano) – The ill-fated heroine who is torn between love and riches.
Il Cavaliere Renato des Grieux (tenor) – A poor student who falls in love with Manon and stays faithful to her until her death.
Lescaut (baritone) – Manon’s brother who pities her fateful situation.
Geronte di Ravoir(bass) – A wealthy Parisian, looking to take Manon as his mistress.
Edmondo (tenor) – A student, friends with des Grieux, and tries to help him win Manon.
Peter Grimes (tenor): a fisherman, disliked by most of the village due to his apprentices’ unfortunate mishaps.
John (mute): the apprentice that Grimes takes on to learn the fishing trade.
Ellen Orford (soprano): a widowed schoolmistress, who is kind to both Grimes and John, and who Grimes wants to marry.
Mrs Sedley (mezzo-soprano): a widowed villager, who is very suspicious of Grimes’ behavior.
Auntie (contralto): landlady of ‘The Boar’, the local tavern.
Nieces (sopranos): Auntie’s nieces, the main attraction of ‘The Boar’.
Bob Boles (tenor): a Methodist fisherman, given to drinking and fighting.
Reverend Horace Adams (tenor): the village rector.
Captian Balstrode (baritone): a retired merchant skipper, who tries to help Grimes.
Ned Keene (baritone): the village apothecary.
Swallow (bass): a lawyer, who begins by questioning Grimes about his previous apprentice’s disappearance.
Hobson (bass): the carter who fetches John for Grimes.Elvira (Soprano) – Silva’s niece, she urges Don Carlo to agree to her marriage with Ernani
Giovanna (Mezzo-Soprano) – Elvira’s lady-in-waiting
Don Juan of Aragon, alias Ernani (Tenor) – An outlaw who is in love with Elvira, he conspires with Silva to overthrow the King
Don Carlo (Baritone) – The King of Spain who later becomes the Holy Roman Emperor
Don Ruy Gomez de Silva (Bass) – Elvira’s uncle and betrothed, swears vengeance on Ernani after they conspire to assassinate Don Carlo
Iago (Bass) – Silva’s esquire
Don Riccardo (Tenor) – Don Carlo’s lieutenant
Miss Schlesen (soprano) – Gandhi’s secretary and aid assists Rustomji in rallying the crowd against the British Government
Mrs. Naidoo (Soprano) – Gandhi’s aid
Kasturbai (Alto) – Gandhi’s wife, she helps to build the Indian settlement on Tolstoy farm and works on the Indian Opinion newspaper
Mrs. Alexander (Alto) – European supporter, yet shields Gandhi against the Europeans’ harassment
Mohandas K. Gandhi (Tenor) – The founder of Satyagraha (non-violent resistance through mass civil disobedience), and a major political and spiritual leader for Indian civil rights in South Africa
Mr. Kallenbach (Baritone) – Gandhi’s aid
Prince Arjuna (Baritone) – He leads an army against Duryodhana on a mythological battlefield
Lord Krishna (Bass) – A Hindu deity who separates two mythological armies, comparing the fabled conflict to the twentieth-century clash between the Indian and European people in South Africa
Parsi Rustomji (Bass) – Indian co-worker of Gandhi’s, urges the crowd to stand up against the British government’s new regulations submitting the Indian people to re-register, carry permits and submit to arbitrary searches
Marie (Soprano) - The adopted daughter of the 21st Regiment of the French army who is in love with Tonio
Marquise de Berkenfield (Soprano) - A surprise relative of Marie’s, she hopes Marie will marry a rich German noble
Duchesse de Krankentorp (Soprano) - Mother of the German noble, Marie’s betrothed
Tonio (Tenor) - Joined the 21st Regiment because he is in love with Marie after saving her from falling into a ravine
Sulpice (Bass) - Sergeant of the French army, he adopted Marie into the regiment but later discovers she is related to the Marquise
Hortensius (Bass) - Steward to the Marquise
Marguerite (Soprano): The sweet and innocent love interest of Faust. Her relationship with Faust causes strife with her mother, ultimately ending in a deadly situation.
Faust (Tenor): A dynamic and endearing character, Faust becomes involved with the devil and in due course, ends up selling his soul to save the woman he loves.
Méphistophélès (Baritone): Méphistophélès, also known as the devil, is the opera’s evil spirit. He introduces Faust and Marguerite, causes them to fall in love, and presents Faust with a deadly deal to save her.
Brander (Bass): A rowdy drunk who entertains the bar with a rousing tale.
Thaïs (soprano): A courtesan, Thaïs is a lady of pleasure who lives in luxury. She relies solely on her beauty, but after meeting Athanaël, searches for a deeper meaning out of life.
Nicias (tenor): An old friend in Athanaël’s home town or Alexandria, Nicias welcomes Athanaël into his home and aids Athanaël in his dealing with Thaïs. Despite his strong feelings for her, Nicias helps Thaïs and Athanaël depart from Alexandria.
Athanaël (baritone): Athanaël is a young and veracious Cenobite monk. After having visions of the courtesan Thaïs, he is determined to convert her to Christianity. Athanaël’s unwavering devotion to God and strong moral fiber becomes challenged by his increasing captivation by Thaïs, yet he doesn’t realize it until it’s too late.
Palémon (bass): The senior monk among the Cenobite monks at Athanaël’s monastery. He tries to guide Athanaël in the right direction, but Athanaël does not heed his warnings.
Magda (soprano): She begins as Rambaldo’s jaded mistress, but Prunier’s ballad restores her faith in love. Inspired, Magda disguises herself as a shop girl named “Paulette” to pursue her romantic dream. While acting under her alias Magda finds love in Ruggero, only to realize that she must choose between wedded bliss and telling the truth.
Lisette (soprano): A vivacious and playful young woman, Lisette is Magda’s maid and close friend. She is also Prunier’s long-time girlfriend, and the two stand in contrast to Magda and her capricious love affairs.
Ruggero (tenor): Ruggero is a young man who becomes infatuated with “Paulette.” Unaware of her past and secrets, Ruggero inadvertently creates a difficult situation in his attempt to perpetuate their idyllic rapture.
Prunier (tenor): A poet whose ballad renews Magda’s view of romantic love. He is also Lisette’s long-time boyfriend.
Rambaldo (baritone): A wealthy Parisian whom Magda has had relations with. He cares for Magda, but is annoyed by her romantic escapade, and ultimately disrupts Magda’s fantasy life.
Adriana (soprano): The toast of the French stage, Adriana is a beautiful and talented actress who is envied by multiple women and the object of many men’s desire. She is infatuated with Maurizio but fears unrequited love, which ultimately causes her to make a fatal mistake.
The Princess of Bouillon (mezzo-soprano): The unfaithful wife of the Prince, she does not take too well to Maurizio’s waning love. Jealous and cunning, she seeks vengeance against her rival and takes this mission to a deadly extreme.
Maurizio (tenor): The handsome Count of Saxony, Maurizio had entered into an affair with the Princess of Bouillion to further his political ambitions. However, his love for Adriana has eclipsed his attraction to the Princess, causing him to to sever all relationship ties with the Princess, a decision that hurts both the one he loves and the one he leaves.
Michonnet (baritone): The stage director at the Comédie-Française, Michonnet is hopelessly and perpetually in love with Adriana even though she does not feel the same.
Teresa (Mezzo-Soprano): Owner of the mill, she has brought Amina up as her own daughter. She attempts to prove her daughter’s innocence with Lisa’s handkerchief.
Amina (Soprano): Betrothed to Elvino, she walks in her sleep accidentally into Rodolfo’s bedroom, causing her fiancé to suspect she is unfaithful.
Lisa (Soprano): Local innkeeper who is in love with Elvino and attempts to frame Amina as a disloyal fiancée.
Elvino (Tenor): Betrothed to Amina, he learns she was sleeping in Rodolfo’s room and fears the worst. He breaks their engagement and proposes to Lisa instead.
Count Rodolfo (Bass): A mysterious traveler who is the first to learn the truth about Amina.
Alessio (Bass): A suitor of Lisa, yet she is not interested
Rusalka (Soprano): A water nymph that has fallen in love with a human prince who often swims in the lake where she lives. Rusalka’s desire to be human compels her to visit Ježibaba, the witch.
The Turnspit (Soprano): The Gamekeeper’s nephew, he helps in the royal kitchen.
The Foreign Princess (Mezzo-Soprano): Rusalka’s rival. Though she does not love the Prince, she feels that she should be his chosen bride.
The Three Wood Nymphs (Two Sopranos and Alto): These energetic creatures dance nightly around the lake and tease the Water Gnome, trying to get him to chase them.
The Water Nymphs (Two Sopranos and Alto): Rusalka’s sisters; they reject her for becoming human.
Ježibaba (Contralto): An ill-tempered witch who lives in the woods, Jezibaba is the only one that can grant Rusalka’s wish to be human.
The Prince (Tenor): A royal who becomes enchanted by the newly human Rusalka and takes her back to his castle.
The Hunter (Baritone): One of the hunters that accompanies the Prince; he is suspicious of the part of the woods to which they have been led.
The Gamekeeper (Baritone): Manages the game for hunting on the Prince’s land.
The Water Gnome (Bass): Rusalka’s father and confidant; he warns her of the dangers of becoming human.
Kitty Oppenheimer (Mezzo-soprano): Oppenheimer’s loving wife, she is afforded tremendous insight through her observations of her husband. She, like Pasqualita, prophetically contemplates the realities of the situation.
Pasqualita (Contralto): The Oppenheimers’ Tewa (Native American) maid, her indigenous songs eerily foreshadow events to come. She offers a soothing and calm voice, which counters the manic energy and anxiety of the scientists.
Robert Wilson (Tenor): Young and motivated, Wilson’s enthusiasm for the project conflicts with his idealistic humanitarian perspective. He deeply wants to be a hero and “save civilization,” but his subconscious awareness of the darker reality makes reconciliation difficult.
Captain James Nolan (Tenor): As the Army Medical Corps physician at Los Alamos, he has the unfortunate task of being the bearer of bad news. Slightly sarcastic but always honest, Nolan earnestly conveys the harsh realities of the bomb’s toxic effects as well as diagnoses the widespread panic.
J. Robert Oppenheimer (Baritone): As director of the Manhattan Project he is a charismatic and respected leader. Yet his massive amount of responsibility causes great internal moral conflict – trusted by important political and military minds in Washington he is obligated to finish the atomic bomb, yet his strong moral fiber makes him teeter on the brink of breakdown.
Edward Teller (Baritone): Teller is a physicist working on the Manhattan Project whose edgy and jaded personality makes it hard for him to collaborate with others. He insightfully poses the moral questions and raises the difficult points that everyone else is trying desperately to ignore.
General Leslie Groves (Baritone): The military head of the Manhattan Project, Groves serves as the politically-minded character who contrasts Oppenheimer and the other scientifically-oriented physicists. As such, Groves views the bomb as a means to an end. The intense pressure from Washington makes him unforgiving and temperamental, and he often bullies the others to expedite their work.
Jack Hubbard (Baritone): An honest yet nervous man, Hubbard is the chief meteorologist for the Trinity test site and meekly succumbs to Groves’ bullying.
Lina (soprano) – Wife to Stiffelio.
Stiffelio (tenor) – A Protestant minister.
Stankar (baritone) – An elderly colonel and father to Lina.
Jorg (bass) – An elderly minister and friend to Stiffelio.
Praskovya Osipovna (soprano) - The barber’s wife.
Daughter of Pelageya Grigoryevna Podtochina (soprano) – Denied by Kovalyov.
Pelageya Grigoryevna Podtochina (mezzo-soprano) – A mother intent on getting Kovalyov to marry her daughter.
District Police Inspector (tenor) – The face of authority.
The Nose (tenor) – The which seems to have a mind of its own.
Yaryzhkin (tenor) – An acquaintance of Kovalyov.
Pyotr Fyodorovich (tenor) - Friend of Kovalyov.
Ivan (tenor) - Kovalyov’s servant. .
Major Platon Kuzmich Kovalyov (baritone) - A collegiate assessor; eager to find his nose.
Ivan Yakovlevich (bass) A barber.
Alexander Petrovich Goryanchikov (baritone) - Newly arrived in the prison, Goryanchikov is an educated man who tries to keep a low profile while in prison. His presence in the prison parallels the wounded eagle also present in the prison.
Skuratov (tenor) - The prisoner Skuratov becomes so homesick for Moscow that he eventually slips into insanity.
Shapkin (tenor) - A prisoner who tells a story of how a police superintendent interrogated him and almost pulled his ears off.
Aljeja (tenor) – A young Tatar, wrongfully imprisoned. Befriended by Petrovich, Aljeja becomes delirious with fever after being injured in a fight amongst the prisoners.
Filka Morozov (tenor) – Imprisoned for a minor offence, he goes by the name Luka Kuzmich.
Shishkov (baritone) - Imprisoned because he murdered his wife.
Ophélie (soprano) – Laërte’s sister.
Queen Gertrude (mezzo-soprano) – Hamlet’s mother.
Laërte (tenor) – Friend of Hamlet.
Hamlet (baritone) – Prince of Denmark.
Polonius (bass) – Father of Ophélie and Laërte.
Ghost of Hamlet’s Father (bass)
Armida (soprano) - A sorceress.
Idraote (bass) - Armida’s accomplice.
Rinaldo (tenor) - Enchanted by and in love with Armida.
Goffredo (tenor) - Commander of the combined Christian forces.
Gernando (tenor) - Leader of the Paladin Knights.
Carlo (tenor) - A knight who will try to save Rinaldo from Armida’s enchantments.
Ubaldo (tenor) - A knight who will try to save Rinaldo from Armida’s enchantments.
Vanessa (soprano) – A lady of great beauty, in her late thirties.
Anatol (tenor) – A handsome young man in his early twenties.
Erika (mezzo-soprano) – Vanessa's niece, a young girl of twenty.
Baroness (contralto) – Vanessa's mother and Erika’s grandmother.
Doctor (baritone) – A doctor.
Nicholas (bass) – The Major-Domo.
Footman (bass) – A Footman.
Attila (bass) – King of the Huns
Ezio (baritone) – A Roman general
Odabella (soprano) – The Lord of Aquileia’s daughter
Foresto (tenor) – A knight of Aquileia
Uldino (tenor) – A young Breton, Attila’s slave
Leone (bass) – An old Roman
Marcello (baritone) - Rodolfo's roommate, a painter. He carries on a stormy, tempestuous relationship with Musetta.
Violetta Valéry (soprano): A courtesan suffering from consumption (tuberculosis).
Marzelline (soprano) - Daughter of Rocco.
Azucena (mezzo-soprano) - Manrico's mother; a Gypsy woman whose mother was burned at the stake for cursing old Count di Luna's infant son.
Chrysothemis (soprano)-Elektra's sister, a mild-mannered girl who longs for a normal life, a family of her own, and peace.
Gabriel von Eisenstein (tenor): Rosalinde's husband and Falke's friend, a romantic flirt who loves to play practical jokes. When the opera begins he has been sentenced to eight days in prison for a civil offense.
Sister Constance of St. Denis (soprano)-A simplistic, frank young novice who enjoys life, does not fear death, and has prophetic dreams.
Zuniga, bass - Don José's commanding officer. Although he arrests Carmen for stabbing another woman, he too falls under her spell.
Kostelnicka Buryjovka (soprano) (Koss-tell-NICH-ka)-The sacristan of the local church, and the highest moral authority in the village. After the death of her abusive, alchoholic husband she became a model parent to her step-daughter Jenufa.
Konstanze (soprano)-A beautiful and romantic young woman engaged to Belmonte. When the opera begins, she has been kidnapped by Turkish pirates and sold as a slave to Pasha Selim.
Donna Anna (soprano)-The daughter of the Commendatore, strong, brave, and determined to avenge her father's death.
Ascagne (soprano)-Enée's son.
Ismaele (Tenor) - The Nephew of the king of Jerusalem and leader of the military. He is in love with Fenena
Kundry - (soprano) Part sorceress, part mortal. She is beholden to Klingsor for unnamed sins in her past, but she tries to atone for her past deeds by helping the Knights of the Grail. She knew Parsifal's father, and so was able to tell the youth his own name.
Calaf (tenor) - the Unknown Prince who attempts to win the hand of Turandot. He is smitten with the dangerously beautiful princess Turandot.
Colline (bass) - A philosopher, he lives in the same apartment with Marcello and Rodolfo. He pawns his overcoat to get money for Mimi's medicine.
Flora (mezzo-soprano): Violetta's friend.
Florestan (tenor) - A political prisoner.
Manrico (tenor) - a follower of the rebel Urgel, under a sentence of death, living the life of an outlaw. He was raised as a Gypsy by Azucena, and he disguises himself as a troubadour to court Leonora.
Klytämnestra (mezzo-soprano; usually spelled Clytemnestra in English)-Queen of Mycenae, mother of Elektra, Chrysothemis, and the late Iphigenia, and Orestes. With the help of her lover Aegisth, Klytämnestra murdered her husband Agammemnon.
Dr. Falke (baritone): A clever, well-connected young man. He has been humiliated in the past by his friend Eisenstein and is determined to get even.
Mme. Lidoine (soprano)-A plainspoken, unsophisticated nun who becomes Prioress of the convent when Mme. de Croissy dies.
Escamillo, baritone - A toreador, or bull fighter. He is also infatuated with Carmen.
Grandmother Buryjovka (contralto) (Burr-ee-YOVE-ka)- Grandmother of Jenufa and Steva and step-grandmother of Laca.
Blonde (soprano)-Konstanze's saavy, sharp-tongued English maid, in love with Pedrillo. She has been kidnapped along with her mistress and sold to the Pasha, who has given her as a gift to Osmin.
Donna Elvira (soprano)-A noblewoman once seduced by Don Giovanni, she has followed him to Seville to expose his crimes to the world.
Hécube (mezzo-soprano)-Queen of Troy, mother of Cassandre and the dead Hector.
Zaccaria (Bass) - A high priest of the Hebrews who gives hope to his people as they are persecuted by Nabucco and the Babylonians.
Amfortas - (baritone) Head of the knights of the Grail. He was wounded by the Holy Spear when he was led astray by a beautiful woman. Now the waters of the Grail keep him alive despite his unhealed wound; he can only be healed by "an innocent fool" who will retrieve the spear from its current owner, Klingsor.
Liù (soprano) - Timur's slave, a beautiful young girl. She is in love with Prince Calaf, but he does not realize the depth of her feelings for him.
Schaunard (baritone) - A musician, Schaunard is the fourth roommate.
The Marquis d'Obigny (bass): Flora's protector.
Don Fernando (bass) - Minister of State.
Count di Luna (baritone) - Aragonese nobleman. When he was a boy, a Gypsy woman killed his baby brother in revenge for her mother's execution. His father charged him to find her and punish her for this wicked crime. Like Manrico, Count di Luna is also in love with Leonora.
Aegisth (tenor; usually spelled Aegisthus English)-Klytämnestra's lover, he helped murder Agammemnon and is partially responsible for keeping Elektra in her degraded position in the household.
Alfred (tenor): An opera singer and former admirer of Rosalinde, incurably romantic and egotistical.
Mother Marie of the Incarnation (mezzo-soprano)-The convent's very proper, brave, sometimes harsh Assistant Prioress.
Carmen, mezzo-soprano - A gypsy who uses her dancing and singing talents to bewitch and seduce various men. She is ruthless, resourceful, and fickle; Carmen manages to be both wicked and admirable at the same time, an uncommon mix for an operatic heroine.
Laca Klemen (tenor) (LA-kah) - Steva's half-brother, a good-hearted but bitter young man who resents Steva for his wealth and popularity. He has loved Jenufa since they were children.
Belmonte (tenor)-A young Spanish nobleman, in love with Konstanze. He has tracked Konstanze, Blonde, and Pedrillo to Pasha Selim's palace, and intends to rescue them all from slavery. This is easier said than done; Belmonte may be wealthy and handsome, but he's far too romantic to be a really effective rescuer.
Zerlina (soprano)-A lovely peasant girl, engaged to Masetto, but attracted to Don Giovanni.
Enée (tenor)-Trojan hero, chosen by the Gods to escape the fall of his city and eventually found a new Troy (Rome) in Italy.
Abigaille (Soprano) - Nabucco's supposed daughter, who, when her love is unreturned by Ismaele, vows to seize the throne to spite Fenena.
Gurnemanz - (bass) Knight of the Grail who relates the history of Titurel and Klingsor.
Turandot (soprano) - Princess of China, daughter of the Emperor, a cruel but beautiful woman. She refuses to marry anyone but the man who can answer her three riddles. All suitors who fail will be put to death.
Mimi (soprano) - She tells Rodolfo that her real name is Lucia, but that everyone calls her Mimi. She is a poor seamstress who is suffering from consumption (tuberculosis).
Baron Douphol (baritone): An admirer of Violetta's.
Don Pizarro (bass) - Governor of a state prison.
Ferrando (bass) - captain of the Aragonese palace guard. He served both the former count and the present Count di Luna, and witnessed the burning of Azucena's mother.
Orest (baritone; usually spelled Orestes in English)-brother of Chrysothemis and Elektra. Klytämnestra exiled him--but Elektra awaits the day when he will return to avenge their father.
Adele (soprano): The Eisensteins' pretty young maid.
Mme. de Croissy (contralto)-The old Prioress of the Carmelite community, who is dying a slow and painful death when Blanche arrives at the convent.
Micaëla, soprano - A peasant girl who is in love with Don José. She is loyal, kind, and good-intentioned; she tries to rescue Don José from the destructive life he will lead with Carmen.
Steva Buryja (tenor) (SHTEY-vah Burr-yaa)-Jenufa's wealthy cousin and lover, a good-looking, irresponsible boy who is very popular with the village girls.
Pedrillo (Tenor)-Belmonte's playful, cunning, and resourceful valet. After being kidnapped and sold to the Pasha, he became the palace gardener-a post that allows him to secretly communicate with his beloved Blonde.
Don Ottavio (tenor)-Donna Anna's fiancé.
Chorèbe (baritone)-Cassandre's fiancé, a Trojan warrior. He is in love with Cassandra, but Tirésias doesn't believe her frantic prophesies.
Fenena (Mezzo-soprano) - Nabucco's actual daughter, who is in love with Ismaele and is forced to choose between her love and the regency her father's absence leaves
Titurel - (bass) Amfortas' father and predecessor. He built the Temple of the Grail, which shelters the knights of the Grail as well as the Grail itself.
Ping (baritone) - China's Grand Chancellor. Together with Pang and Pong he is responsible for preparing the funerals of the princes who cannot answer Turandot's riddles.
Musetta (soprano) - A flirtatious coquette, Musetta loves Marcello but is always trying to make him jealous.
Dr. Grenvil (bass): Violetta's doctor.
Rocco - (bass) The jailmaster.
Tutor of Orest (Bass)
Ida (speaking role): Adele's sister, a sophisticated ballet dancer.
Mother Jeanne (contralto)-Dean of the community.
Frasquita and Mercédès , sopranos - Gypsy friends of Carmen's.
Mill Foreman (baritone)-The foreman of the village mill.
Osmin (Bass)-The old overseer of the Pasha's country house. He jealously guards the harem, including his own slave Blonde, and is suspicious of all strange men.
Masetto (baritone)-Zerlina's fiancé, a peasant. He is in love with Zerlina, but doesn't trust her by herself-especially not with a nobleman.
Panthée (bass)-A Trojan priest and friend of Enée. He saves the sacred Trojan images from the Greeks and escapes with Enée to Carthage.
Abdallo (Tenor) -An old officer of the King who attempts to restore Nabucco to the throne.
Klingsor - (bass-baritone) Sorcerer and former knight of the Grail. Klingsor possesses the Holy Spear and schemes to get the Grail as well. He has conjured a magic garden where he ensnares knights of the Grail who have gone astray.
Pang (tenor) - The General Purveyor.
Benoit (bass) - The somewhat bumbling landlord of the building where the four roommates live.
Jacquino (bass) - A gatekeeper.
Old Servant (Bass)
Prince Orlofsky (mezzo-soprano): A rich young Russian prince who throws Vienna's most extravagant parties -- but is bored by almost everything.
Chevalier de la Force (tenor)-Blanche's older brother, a loyal and protective man who worries about his family's future.
The Mayor (bass)-The Mayor of the village. He is eager to have his daughter Karolka marry the wealthy Steva.
Klaas (speaking part)-A sailor who helps Pedrillo and Belmonte try to rescue Konstanze and Blonde.
Commendatore (bass)-Donna Anna's father. After Don Giovanni kills him, the Commendatore returns from the dead as a statue to warn his murderer to repent.
Ghost of Hector (bass)-The ghost of Troy's greatest hero, Hector. He returns from the grave to inform Enée of his destiny.
Anna (Soprano) - Zaccaria's sister
Pong (tenor) - The court's chief Cook.
Alcindoro (bass) - A rich older man, an admirer of Musetta's. She uses him to make Marcello jealous.
Alfredo Germont (tenor): Violetta's lover.
Frank (baritone): The prison warden.
The Chaplain (tenor)-Chaplain of the Carmelite convent. He says mass and takes confession for the sisters.
The Mayor's Wife (mezzo-soprano)-A sharp-witted and slightly mercenary woman.
Leporello (bass)-Don Giovanni's servant. Leporello hates working for the Don, which usually involves lying, cheating, stealing, and putting his own life on the line so that his master can seduce more women.
Priam (bass)-King of Troy.
The Prince of Persia (baritone) - One of Turandot's many unsuccessful suitors.
Annina (soprano): Violetta's maid.
Frosch (speaking role): A drunken jailor.
The Commissioner (tenor)-An officer of the Revolutionary government.
Karolka (mezzo-soprano) (Karr-OLE-kah)-The Mayor's daughter, a frivolous, flirty young girl. She becomes engaged to Steva after he abandons Jenufa.
Didon (mezzo-soprano)-The beautiful Queen of Carthage. She has sworn to remain faithful to her dead husband, but falls in love with Enée anyway.
Mandarin (baritone) - An official in charge of announcing all of the emperor's edicts.
Dr. Blind (tenor): Eisenstein's stuttering, incompetent lawyer.
Marquis de la Force (baritone)-Blanche's aging father. He strongly believes that his daughter's vague fears could be cured by a good marriage.
Jano (soprano) (YAH-no)-A shepherd boy whom Jenufa has taught to read.
Anna (contralto)-Didon's light-hearted sister. She only wants to see her sister happy.
Giorgio Germont (baritone): Alfredo's father.
Thierry (baritone)-The footman of the de la Force family.
Barena (soprano) (Bah-REY-nah)-A servant girl at the mill.
Iopas (tenor)-Didon's court poet.
M. Javelinot (baritone)-The doctor caring for the dying Mme. de Croissy.
Hylas (tenor)-A young Phrygian sailor.
Narbal (bass)-Didon's minister. He disapproves of Didon's relationship with Enée, and fears it can come to no good.
Mercury (bass)-The messenger of the Gods.
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