Opera Kitchener presents Madama Butterfly by G. Puccini

Sunday March 14^th 2010 ~ 3pm

The most performed OPERA of all TIME

Opera’Äôs most epic and exotic tale of passion and betrayal comes to THE HUMANITIES THEATRE;  a young woman must decide between living without dignity or dying with honour in the opera most performed throughout the world.

This fully staged performance will be sung in Italian, with English Surtitles, accompanied by orchestra, soloists and chorus conducted by Maestro Sabatino Vacca.

Puccini’Äôs soaring melodies and iconic orchestration bring to life the tale of a young geisha girl, Cio-Cio San, also know as Madama Butterfly, who at the opening of the opera has been arranged to marry a U.S. Navel Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton.  However, the carefree young officer tells his friend, the American Counsel Sharpless, that although he likes Butterfly and will proceed with the ceremony, he won’Äôt think much of it when he returns to America. With the arrival of all her guests and relatives, Butterfly reveals to Pinkerton that she has renounced her faith to be with him.  As Pinkerton then realizes what Butterfly has given up for him, the gravity of this action climaxes: suddenly Butterfly’Äôs Uncle, a high priest, arrives and curses the girl for forsaking the ancient religion of her ancestors. All the wedding guests leave, denouncing Cio-Cio San, and leave her to be comforted solely in the arms of her new husband.  Can the two lovers overcome the ancient curse as cultures collide ? 

As famous as the actual tale itself is the magnificent and memorable music that pours forth from the score; familiar arias such as the heart wrenching ’ÄúUn bel Di’Äù and ’ÄúAddio, fiorito asil’Äù, the duet of the young lovers ’ÄúVieni la sera’Äù, and the hauntingly beautiful ’ÄúHumming Chorus’Äù all depict overwhelming emotions via of the power of the human voice soaring above an orchestra.  Premiering an all-Canadian cast, this period production features the vocal talents of Suzanne Kilgore as the heroine Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Romulo Delgado as Pinkerton, Louisa Cowie as Suzuki and Mark Gardner as Sharpless. 

Don’Äôt miss this performance of the world’Äôs most beloved opera: ’ÄúMadama Butterfly’Äù by G.Puccini will be for only one performance only ~ Sunday March 14^th 2010 at 3pm.  Call the Humanities Theatre Box Office at 519.888.4908 and book your tickets today!

OPERA KITCHENER is owned and operated by husband and wife team Emilio and Jennifer Fina.  Their mandate is to present traditional, fully-staged professional operatic productions on a yearly basis, to provide the experience that only opera can bestow to the public with affordable ticket prices and to employ the talents of resident musicians and artists of the community.

OPERA KITCHENER’Äôs ’ÄúMADAMA BUTTERFLY’Äù ’Äì an opera by G.Puccini  ’Äì

Sunday March 14^th 2010 at 3pm

The Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo

200 University Avenue West, Waterloo Ontario

Fully staged with sets, costumes, orchestra, chorus and soloists

Sung in Italian with English Surtitles

For Tickets call the Humanities Theatre Box Office at 519.888.4908

Visit us at www.operakitchener.com for more information on this performance or our 2009/2010 season.