Honolulu, Hawaii – Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT) undertakes a series of Life Changing Journeys, the 2014-15 Opera Season, with the Italian Composer Giacomo Puccini’s famous classic, Madam Butterfly.
Originally created for the Savonlinna Opera Festival in Finland (Madam Butterfly 2009 & 2014), this production was the product of a Hawaiian collective, including HOT Artistic Director, Henry Akina (Stage Director), Fashion Designer Anne Namba (Costume Designer), and Dean Shibuya (Set Designer). The three revisit their work in a homecoming of sorts as Madam Butterfly comes to life in Hawaii, with Maestro Ivan Törzs taking the podium as Conductor.
Known for beautiful melodies including the aria “Un bel di” (“One fine day”), this opera is set in Nagasaki, Japan, where an American naval officer named Pinkerton is set to marry a young woman named Cio-Cio-San (“Butterfly” in Japanese). While Cio-Cio-San is truly in love, Pinkerton views the marriage as a simple convenience. Butterfly has become so infatuated with Pinkerton that she renounces her Buddhist beliefs and converts to Christianity. Hearing this, Butterfly’s uncle shows up at their wedding and curses her. Not long after, Pinkerton leaves Japan, promising to return to Butterfly soon, all the while knowing that he doesn’t feel the same about her as she does him.
For three years, Madam Butterfly waits for Pinkerton. When he finally does return, Pinkerton is accompanied by his new American wife and it is revealed that Cio-Cio-San has given birth to a son. How will she react to the news that the love of her life has taken another wife?
Highly acclaimed Soprano Lina Tetriani makes her HOT debut as Cio-Cio San with Tenor Eric Margiore, last seen in HOT’s La Traviata (2011), starring as Pinkerton. Joining them are Metropolitan Opera regulars Mezzo-Soprano Ning Liang as Suzuki and Baritone Daniel Sutin as Sharpless. Bass-Baritone Jamie Offenbach returns to Hawaii to perform as the Bonze. Offenbach, who starred in the title role of HOT’s modern take of The Mikado this past June, is a native of Hawaii and former resident of Oahu.
Madam Butterfly will be performed at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall on October 10, 12, & 14, 2014.
Tickets to Madam Butterfly and Season Subscriptions can be purchased by contacting the HOT Box Office at (808) 596-7858, online at www.HawaiiOpera.org or via www.TicketMaster.com.
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For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jason M.A. Walter | 808-596-7372 ext. 211 | j_walter@hawaiiopera.org
