Gail Dubinbaum to Sing Role of Suzuki

IN PHOENIX OPERA’ÄôS MADAMA BUTTERFLY 

FORMER METROPOLITAN OPERA STAR CO-FOUNDED PHOENIX OPERA 

Madama Butterfly

  February 12, 14, 2010 

Mezzo-soprano Gail Dubinbaum, who co-founded Phoenix Opera in 2006 with her husband, John Massaro, will take to the stage herself on February 12^th and 14^th as she performs the role of Suzuki in Phoenix Opera’Äôs Madama Butterfly. Ms. Dubinbaum has performed the role many times at numerous opera houses, most notably in Israel with the Israel Philharmonic under the baton of Maestro Zubin Mehta. Of note also is the fact that this performance will be the first time, after many years of marriage, she and her husband will perform together in an opera as singer and conductor.  

Gail Dubinbaum has performed both opera and concert works internationally. She has sung leading roles with some of the world’Äôs most prestigious opera companies including the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Israel Opera and L’ÄôOpera de Montreal. Nationally, she has appeared with Opera Pacific, Detroit Opera, Portland Opera and Arizona Opera. On the concert stage, Ms. Dubinbaum has sung with the Los Angeles, Israel, New York, Boston, Cleveland and San Francisco Orchestras ... and with such renowned conductors as Zubin Mehta, James Levine, Michael Tilson Thomas, Gerard Schwarz, Carlo Maria Giulini and Leonard Bernstein. Known for her portrayals of Rossini and Mozart heroines, Ms. Dubinbaum has also distinguished herself in recital, having worked closely with the legendary soprano, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf. Beginning her studies with her mother, Ruth Dubinbaum, she continued her private studies with the great German mezzo, Mme. Herta Glaz. She appeared on television in the series ’ÄúIn Performance at the White House’Äù and ’ÄúLive from the Met.’Äù Her DVD recordings include ’ÄúFrancesca da Rimini’Äù with the Metropolitan Opera and the ’ÄúMet Centennial Gala.’Äù For nearly a decade, her private studio in Phoenix has produced singers who consistently win national competitions and land leading roles with major opera companies. 

As Cio-Cio San, Phoenix Opera will present internationally renowned soprano, Mihoko Kinoshita. Mihoko has been hailed by critics as ’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. Mihoko has sung the role of Butterfly throughout Europe, Japan, and several major cities in the United States to enthusiastic reviews:  

Madama Butterfly premiered at LaScala, in Milan, in 1904 and has consistently been one of the most performed operas in the repertoire.  In the opera, Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton marries a young Japanese girl, Cio-Cio San (Butterfly). 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. Gail Dubinbaum describes the character she will portray: ’ÄúSuzuki provides a contrast to the character of Cio-Cio San. Suzuki is older, wiser, a long time companion to Cio- Cio San, a friend of the family for years. She sees the folly in Cio-Cio San's unfailing devotion to the hope that Pinkerton will return. She tries to reason with Cio-Cio San. She is the truest of friends, and when the tragedy becomes apparent, she shares the devastation of Cio-Cio San's disappointment.  They would both be out on the street, impoverished together...but Suzuki never leaves her side. Suzuki is quite a powerful dramatic role...and I love it!  She is Cio-Cio San's greatest protector, her truest friend, the one who must break the unbearable news about Pinkerton and the child to Cio-Cio San. I cry through almost the entire opera.....and spend most of my time on my knees.’Äô 

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.