Japanese Opera Star Mihoko Kinoshita to Sing in Phoneix

WILL STAR AS CIO-CIO-SAN IN PHOENIX OPERA’ÄôS MADAMA BUTTERFLY

ACCLAIMED BY CRITICS FOR HER BUTTERFLY INTERPRETATION

Madama Butterfly

February 12, 14, 2010

In February Phoenix Opera will present an internationally renowned soprano in the role of Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’Äôs Madama Butterfly at the Orpheum Theatre. Mihoko Kinoshita has been called by some ’Äúthe greatest Cio-Cio-San’Äù due to her rich and incomparably controlled voice, and her unparalleled portrayal of the wide spectrum of emotions necessary for the role. Kinoshita has sung the role of Butterfly throughout Europe, Japan, and several major cities in the United States to enthusiastic reviews:

’Äú’ĶKinoshita’Äôs vocal accomplishment is absolute. ’Ķbound up in Kinoshita’Äôs vocal prowess is her stage savvy. Her acting instincts elevate her singing to a devastating naturalism. We believe in this ingenuous Butterfly as surely as she believes in her marriage to the long-departed Lt. Pinkerton.’Äù

- The Detroit News

’Äú’Ķgaining strength and richness; dramatically on target, with a wealth of detail in the acting. Kinoshita left quite a vivid mark on the [Butterfly] role’Ķ’Äù

- Baltimore Sun

’ÄúSoprano's brilliant performance carries ’ÄòButterfly'’Äù

- Midland Daily News

Mihoko Kinoshita was born in Kagoshima, Japan. She completed both her Bachelor and Master's Degree at the Musashino Academy of Music. In 2001, she began studying abroad in Italy. She has been awarded numerous prizes, such as first place in the Santa Margherita International Opera Competition and Bevagna International Opera Competition, as well as second place in Verdian voice International Competition in Busseto and the Riccardo Zandonai International Opera Competition. She was also awarded the New Nippon Steal Award-Fresh artist award (2006), and the Idemitsu Music Award (2007), one of Japan's highest awards in the field of arts.

In 2007, Kinoshita was awarded first prize in the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition and caused a sensation in their winner's concert at Lincoln Center. Her "One Fine Day" (Un bel di vedremo) fascinated not only her audience but also the other winners.

She had her Baltimore Opera debut, in May 2008, as Madama Butterfly, following her debut with the Midland Symphony Orchestra in the same role. She also made her Detroit Opera debut at Michigan Opera Theater (MOT) in November. In all of the performances, her brilliant talent showed her full range of the Butterfly character, and won her much approval from critics and the public. Even now, audiences seldom have the chance to see such a talented Japanese singer, who can perform the title role as brilliantly.

In December, she was invited to the Puccini 150th Anniversary Gala Concert by Di Capo Opera and sang the "Love Duet" from Madama Butterfly with Raul Melo at Lincoln Center.

She has recognized as major interpreter of the role of Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, having sung the role at the Santa Margherita Opera Festival in Italy (2002), Belgrade Opera (2003), Sofia National Opera (2004), Tokyo Bunkakaikan of Nikikai Opera Theater (2004, 2006), the Kanagawa Philharmonic (2004) and the Sofia summer Festival (2006).

Kinoshita will make her Canadian debut as "Cio-Cio-San" at Vancouver in 2010. She resides in New York.

In the opera, Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton marries a young Japanese girl, Cio-Cio-San. Taking his marriage vows lightly, Pinkerton abandons Cio-Cio-San and returns to America where he finds a new wife. Only realizing that she had been abandoned three years later, shortly before a return visit by Pinkerton and his new wife, Cio-Cio-San begins to set the stage for the third act’Äôs shocking conclusion. Madama Butterfly premiered at LaScala. In Milan, in 1904 and has consistently been one of the most performed operas in the repertoire.

Puccini’Äôs Madama Butterfly will be presented on February 12^th and 14^th, 2010 at the Orpheum Theatre in downtown Phoenix. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster or by calling the Orpheum Theatre at 602-262-7272.