Hui He And Ermonela Jaho to Sing The Title Role Of Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Chinese soprano Hui He and Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho share the title role of Puccini's Madama Butterfly at the Met. Italian conductor Jader Bignamini, who is making his company debut, leads initial performances starring He, who has performed in the opera more than 150 times, beginning November 2. The cast for Anthony Minghella's production (an instant hit when it premiered at the Met in 2006) also includes Italian tenor Roberto Aronica as Pinkerton, Serbian baritone David Bizic as Sharpless, and American mezzo-soprano Maria Zifchak reprising her interpretation of Suzuki. On November 20 and March 13, American baritone Dwayne Croft will sing Sharpless.

Beginning February 22, Italian maestro Marco Armiliato conducts with Jaho as Cio-Cio-San, a role she sang at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden earlier this year when The Guardian noted her "combination of vulnerability and torrential emotion just tears you in two". Italian baritone Roberto Frontali takes on the role of Sharpless and for the final two performances, British tenor Luis Chapa makes his Met debut as Pinkerton.

Further information, including biographies of principal artists, is available in our online press room here.

Performances for Madama Butterfly: November 2, 6, 9, 13, 17, 20; Feb. 22, 26; Mar. 3mat, 8, 13, 16. Curtain times vary: complete schedule here. Running time: 3 hours and 14 minutes, including two intermissions.

Tickets begin at $25; for prices, more information, or to place an order, please call (212) 362-6000 or visit www.metopera.org. Special rates for groups of 10 or more are available by calling (212) 341-5410 or visiting www.metopera.org/groups.

Same-day $25 rush tickets for all performances of Madama Butterfly are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Met's Web site. Tickets will go on sale for performances Monday-Friday at noon, matinees four hours before curtain, and Saturday evenings at 2pm. To enter, click here.

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