The Dallas Opera Presents MADAME BUTTERFLY

The Dallas Opera is thrilled to present the block-buster of the season, Giacomo Puccini'sheart-wrenching MADAME BUTTERFLY. With its poignant melodies, memorable characters, and intriguing storyline, it's the must-see opera for newcomers a perennial favorite of aficionados. The stellar international cast features one of today's most famous interpreters of the role of Cio-Cio-San, (Butterfly), the extraordinary Chinese soprano Hui He, as well as Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova (Lt. B.F. Pinkerton); each in their Dallas Opera debuts. Renowned Italian conductor Donato Renzetti will be at the podium in this San Francisco Opera production directed by the distinguished British stage director, John Copley.

MADAME BUTTERFLY opens Friday, March 10, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the magnificent Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. Additional performances are scheduled for March 12(m), 15, 18, 24, 26(m).

Tickets start at just $19, with seating based on availability, and can be purchased through The Dallas Opera Ticket Services Office at 214-443-1000 or online at dallasopera.org.

The Winspear Opera House is located at 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

MADAME BUTTERFLY, with a libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, is loosely based on true events in Nagasaki, Japan (dramatized on the London stage by David Belasco). It depicts the story of a naïve young woman, Cio-Cio-San (Hui He), who falls in love with a callous American naval officer, Lt. B. F. Pinkerton, temporarily stationed in Japan. Pinkerton is charmed by the inexperienced young woman and seduces her into a marriage of convenience. Pinkerton soon leaves her, promising to return. Years pass and Butterfly remains steadfast in her devotion and loyalty to her now-vanished husband, despite pleas from her maid Suzuki (mezzo-soprano Manuela Custer), to give up her vigil, and interest from worthy suitors. Pinkerton eventually returns, but to Butterfly's despair, it is not to reunite with his former lover.

This production is made possible through the generous support of Texas Instruments Foundation and from James R. and Carole Erwin.

"The genius of Puccini vibrantly lives on as we proudly present the inimitable MADAME BUTTERFLY," stated Keith Cerny, the Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO. "This profoundly theatrical production, so beloved by audience members, is often considered an irreplaceable operatic experience. The exceptional cast, our acclaimed Dallas Opera Orchestra and Chorus, and the quality of the production, ensure that this is a "must-see" work, easily accessible here in North Texas.

"We have six performances, but don't delay checking your calendars and choosing your seats for what promises to be a one of the most incredible musical performances in 2017!" he added.

Italian composer Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) is often widely considered one of the most successful composers of the 20thcentury. He was unsurpassed in his ability to create memorable melodies and tremendously adept at writing music that effectively illustrated the drama onstage.

Puccini had great success with Manon Lescaut, La Bohème, and Tosca prior to the premiere of Madame Butterfly on February 17, 1904, and was considered an heir to Giuseppe Verdi. Butterfly's premiere was not a success, due to problems onstage, as well as in the orchestra pit. There was also a group of determined hecklers in the audience, perhaps hired by a rival composer. However, the opera was soon reworked and the second premiere of Butterfly, just a few months later, was an unalloyed triumph. To this day, Madame Butterfly remains a centerpiece of the operatic repertoire.

"This story is very familiar to twenty-first century audiences yet, somehow, it never grows old," notes Keith Cerny. "We remain utterly captivated by the beautiful, vulnerable Cio-Cio-San and outraged by Pinkerton's callous disregard for her.

Every emotional high and low in this opera is lovingly underscored by Puccini's exquisitely sensitive melodies," Mr. Cerny adds, "from 'Un bel di' to the famous 'Humming Chorus' (performed from the wings during an all-night vigil).

"The composer admitted he cried when he came to the end of his own opera-and who can blame him? Generations of opera lovers know exactly how Puccini felt. With this superb international cast and expert guidance from Donato Renzetti in the orchestra pit and director John Copley, I am confident this will be a Butterfly for the ages."

Chinese soprano Hui He has sung at most of the world's leading theaters, including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna State Opera, Teatro alla Scala, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and Arena di Verona. Ms. He has performed the role of Butterfly at the Metropolitan Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Berlin Staatsoper, Vienna Staatsoper, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Teatro Regio Turin, Bayerische Staatsoper Munich, Liceu Barcelona, National Theatre Mannheim, Municipal Theatre of Santiago, Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia Valencia, Teatro Massimo (Palermo), Oslo, and Théâtre du Capitole (Toulouse). In addition to Dallas, future engagements as Cio-Cio-San include Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Den Norske Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Teatro Real de Madrid.

"The debut of Hui He in the role of Butterfly was sensational: she has convinced not only with her big voice, her wonderful technique and her marvelous timbre, but also she touched with a deep and emotional interpretation. The best Butterfly that you can wish." (Wiener Zeitung, Austria).

Italian tenor Gianluca Terranova makes his eagerly anticipated company debut as Pinkerton. His "youthful, heroic and clear voice perfectly suggests the poetic, dreamy nature of the character...but it can also just as beautifully convey the later anguish and troubled self-awareness that come to the character..." described Andrew Alexander of the Atlanta Journal Constitution of Mr. Terranova's recent portrayal in La Bohème.

Born in Rome, Mr. Terranova is one of the most sought-after tenors in the industry. He has performed in such venues as Teatro alla Scala, Los Angeles Opera, Opera Australia in Sydney and Melbourne, Grand Theatre of Shangai, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Teatro La Fenice, Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Arena di Verona, working with such conductors as James Conlon, Myung Wung Chung, Nicola Luisotti, and Zubin Mehta. Recent and future engagements include Don Carlo (title role) in Duesseldorf, La Bohème (Rodolfo) in Atlanta, Genova, Melbourne and Tokyo, Simon Boccanegra (Adorno) in Genova and Napoli. In 2015 he released his new solo album: Gianluca Terranova Recital (Warner).

Internationally acclaimed Italian mezzo-soprano Manuela Custer stars as Suzuki, Butterfly's maid-servant and confidante. "Vocally, she displayed an impeccable line of singing, with a pleasing and refreshing timbre that contains an ample range of rich colors," raved Ramon Jacques, Opera Click, of her role as Isabella in our 2009 production of Rossini's The Italian Girl in Algiers.

American baritone Lucas Meachem stars as Sharpless, the American consul in Nagasaki. "A natural on stage, he...dazzled the audience with the power and beauty of his voice," (Broadway World).

All six performances will be conducted by Donato Renzetti, one of the most highly respected Italian conductors at work in the world today. Maestro Renzetti has conducted the London Sinfonietta, the London Philharmonic, the London Philharmonia, the English Chamber Orchestra, the Tokyo Philharmonic, the Buenos Aires Philharmonic, the Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, and the Orchestra della RAI in Milan, Turin and Rome.

According to Robert J. Farr of MusicWeb International "The singers do not have to force, particularly when accompanied by a maestro of such experience and sympathy as Donato Renzetti." George Loomis of The New York Times wrote that the Maestro "conducted a warm, expansive performance," of a recent production of Tosca for Rome Opera.

MADAME BUTTERFLY is a production of San Francisco Opera and will be staged by the legendary British director, John Copley. Mr. Copley is former Principal Resident Director of The Royal Opera, Covent Garden and his many productions there include the acclaimed 1974 production of La Bohème, which ran for 41 years, Le Nozze di Figaro, Così fan Tutte, Don Giovanni, L'Elisir d'Amore, Alceste, Faust, Werther, Maria Stuarda, Ariadne auf Naxos, and Semele. He has worked widely in the USA, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and The Dallas Opera where he made his U.S. debut. John Copley is the "James R. Seitz, Jr. Stage Director in honor of John Gage."

The set and costume designer is by Dallas native Michael Yeargan, with Lighting Design by Duane Schuler.

The Joy and Ronald Mankoff Pre-Opera Talks, a free, pre-performance lecture, will be conducted one hour prior to curtain at most performances. More perspective can be gained through "Opera Insights" presented by The Dallas Opera Guild. The informative panel discussion featuring artists, directors and/or designers takes place Sunday, February 26, 2017, 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Hamon Hall at the Winspear Opera House. For more details, visit dallasopera.org.

Single tickets, starting at just $19, are on sale now, with seating subject to availability. Tickets may be purchased online, at the door, at the ticket office, or by calling 214.443.1000. Flex subscriptions (three opera productions) start at $75 and are also available now.

Performed in Italian with English translations projected above the stage, MADAME BUTTERFLY is a classic period production.

 

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