Berkshire Opera Festival to Open with MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Berkshire Opera Festival (BOF) today announced that the company will open its inaugural season in the summer of 2016 with a production of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly. It receives three performances at the historic Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, premiering Saturday, August 27, with subsequent performances Tuesday, August 30, and Friday, September 2. All performances begin at 7:30pm.

BOF General Director Jonathon Loy, who also serves as stage director, commented, "We're very excited to open Berkshire Opera Festival for business at last, and to share all our company has to offer with the community and beyond. I am thrilled to be directing the first fully-produced opera to be presented in the Berkshires in years." The production is conducted by Artistic Director Brian Garman. "Butterfly is a perennial favorite, and for good reason," Garman remarked. "A timeless love story, and heartbreakingly beautiful music sung by a world-class cast - I can't think of a better way to launch Berkshire Opera Festival."

Puccini's masterpiece tells the story of the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, who has just married B.F. Pinkerton, an American naval officer. Her love for him is enormous, but when Pinkerton returns to America, he marries another woman, leaving Cio-Cio-San forgotten. She clings to the hope that Pinkerton will return for her, but soon must face the truth of this betrayal and dishonor.

The opera features Moldovan soprano Inna Los in the title role. From the Metropolitan Opera to Deutsche Oper Berlin to the Wiener Staatsoper, she has sung around the globe to great acclaim, and her performances of Puccini's doomed geisha have enjoyed success worldwide. Tenor Jason Slayden, recognized for his stirring portrayals of many Verdi and Puccini roles, sings Pinkerton. Reprising a favorite role that has earned him raves, the American baritone Weston Hurt stars as Sharpless, the U.S. consul. Fast-rising mezzo-soprano Sarah Larsen takes on the role of Suzuki, while Metropolitan Opera tenor Eduardo Valdes sings Goro. Legendary bass and Berkshire resident John Cheek fills out the cast in the role of Butterfly's uncle, the Bonze. The performances feature the Berkshire Opera Festival Orchestra and Chorus.

Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with projected English supertitles. Tickets are priced from $20 to $98, and will go on sale January 18. For more information, please visit www.berkshireoperafestival.org.