Madama Butterfly 2016
Madama Butterfly 2016 - Media Gallery
PRODUCTION VIDEOS
Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
based on the play by David Belasco
Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan
Friday, May 20 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 22 - 2 p.m.
Wednesday, May 25 - 8 p.m.
Saturday, May 28 - 8 p.m.
Sunday, May 29 - 2 p.m.
at the Lucie Stern Theatre
1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301
Performances are 3 hrs long,
including two 15-minute intermissions.
FREE Preview with Piano
Thursday, May 12, 2016 - 8:00 p.m.
Lucie Stern Ballroom
1305 Middlefield Rd., Palo Alto, CA 94301
About Butterfly
World Premiere: Teatro alla Scala, Milan - Feb 17, 1904
WBO Premiere: May 15, 1959
Pictured: interior of the Teatro alla Scala
In early 1900’s Nagasaki, an American naval officer weds a young Japanese woman. Months later he leaves her, unaware that she is pregnant with his son, and promises to come back. Three years later, she is nearly destitute and shunned by her family for becoming a Christian, but she is steadfast in her conviction that he will return. He does return, with a new American wife, remorseful but ready to take his son back with him. Devastated, Butterfly gives up the child and commits suicide. Madama Butterfly
is based on the play by David Belasco, which was very popular when it premiered in 1900. The play's success reflected the shock waved sent around the world by the American triumph in the Spanish-American war, as a result of which the once mighty Spanish Empire lost Cuba and the Philippines. The young and socially awkward Pinkerton serves as an allegory for the nascent American empire, well meaning but not fully aware of its impact on the ancient cultures with which it came into contact. This is considered Puccini's dramatically most effective and powerful score. It is one of the 10 most performed operas in the repertoire.
Creative team
José Luis Moscovich - Conductor
Eugene Brancoveanu - Stage Director
Peter Crompton - Set Designer
Claire Townsend - Costume Designer
Edward Hunter - Lighting Designer
Frederic Boulay - Projection Designer
Lisa Cross - Makeup and Wig Designer
Shirley Benson - Props Designer
Tod Nixon - Sound Designer
Pictured: set designs by Peter Crompton
Cast
Madama Butterfly
- Olga Chernisheva
Pinkerton
- David Gustavson
Suzuki
- Kristen Choi
Sharpless
- Igor Vieira
Meg Page
- Veronica Jensen
Bonzo
- Kiril Havezov
Yamadori
- Ryan Bradford
Imperial Commissioner
- Ryan Bradford
Kate
- Carolyn Bacon
Dolore
- Zoe G. Lai
Photo: Otak Jump
Chorus
Bruce Olstad, Chorusmaster
James Beattie, Jared Bernstein, Eric Borchers*, Yvonne Casillas, Ken Cioffi*, Sili Gao*, Inna Gitman, Youjin Hwang*, Farrah Kidwai, Nina McBride*, Amber McDonald, Adam Miner*, Katherine Naegele*, Maria Polyakova, Crystal Rose*, Lisa Singh*, Jennisara Sumiri, Christian Voitenleitner, Congcong Wang*, Arthur Wu*
Supernumeraries
Lucy Lu, Aria Pleban, Tania Tengan
* First appearance with West Bay Opera
Photo: Otak Jump
Orchestra
Butterfly Orchestra
Kristina Anderson (concertmaster), Violin I: Ryo Fukuda, Virginia Smedberg; Violin II: Rebecca McCormick, Frida Pukhachevsky, Judy Kmetko; Viola: Ilana Matfis, Rachel Mcguire; Cello: Janet Witharm, Robin Snyder; Bass: Marie Laskin; Flute: Michelle Caimotto; Oboe: Kathleen Conner; Clarinet: Art Austin, James Pytko; Bassoon: Amy Duxbury; Horn: Susan Vollmer, Diane Ryan; Trumpet: Rick Leder; Trombone: Craig Whitwell; Timpani: Don Baker;Harp: Randall Pratt; Orchestra Manager: Christy Crews; Orchestra Librarian: Virginia Smedberg
Orchestral reduction by Bryan Higgins - Motet Publications
* First appearance with West Bay Opera
Photo: Otak Jump
Madama Butterfly 2016 - Media Gallery
PRODUCTION PHOTOS by Otak Jump
Madama Butterfly 2016 - Press and Reviews
Our productions are made possible, in part, by the generous support of our key partners:
