Walter Mahoney

Walter Mahoney, former Resident Costume Shop Manager for San Francisco Opera, celebrated his 50^th anniversary with the company in 1994 and retired in 2003. He designed new costumes for the company’s productions of La bohème (1999, 1996, 1993), Faust (1995), Tannhäuser (1994), Die Meistersing von Nürnberg (1993), L’elisir d’amore (1992), and Manon Lescaut (1988), the same year he interprested the late Nicola Benois’ costume designs for Maometto ii. Also for San Francisco Opera productions, he designed costumes epecially for Ruth Ann Swenson (Roméo et Juliette), Mirella Freni (Manon Lescaut), Frederica von Sade (La sonnambula), Marilyn Horne (Samson et Dalila), Katia Ricciarella (La traviata), Renata Scotto (Werther), and Ghena Dimitrova (Il torvatore).  S.F. Opera Center credits include costume designs for the 2000 Showcase presentation of Albert Herring and Western Opera Theater’s 1999 production of Don Giovanni. In 1993, Mr. Mahoney was given the Opera Medal, the company’s highest honor, for his outstanding contribution to the company over a lengthy tenure. The award has been given to such celebrated artists as soprano Dorothy Kirsten, tenor Plácido Domingo, cellist David Kadarauch, and director Francesca Zambello, among others, since 1970.