Opera Kitchener presents Madama Butterfly by G. Puccini

Sunday March 14^th 2010 ~ 3pm

The most performed OPERA of all TIME

Opera’s 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’s 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’t 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’s 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 “Un bel Di” and “Addio, fiorito asil”, the duet of the young lovers “Vieni la sera”, and the hauntingly beautiful “Humming Chorus” 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’t miss this performance of the world’s most beloved opera: “Madama Butterfly” 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’s “MADAMA BUTTERFLY” – an opera by G.Puccini  –

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.

Opera Kitchener presents "Die Fledermaus" by Johann Strauss Jr.

Sunday January 3^rd, 2010 – 3:00pm

OPERA KITCHENER flies into the New Year on the wings of a BAT

Revenge and romance, intrigue and infidelity all bubble forth in Johann Strauss’ effervescent operetta “Die Fledermaus” (“The Bat”) ~ Renowned for it’s sparkling music and the composer’s signature waltzes that slowly accelerate to heart-palpitating speeds, this operetta includes such famously frothy and recognizable tunes as “The Champagne Waltz” , “Adele’s Laughing Aria”, and “The Czardas”. Prepare yourself for an intoxicatingly exuberant afternoon filled with mirth and music!

In the European tradition, this fully staged performance will be sung in German, with English Surtitles and Dialogue in English. It will be accompanied by orchestra conducted by Maestro Geoffrey Butler.

Furthermore keeping with this operetta’s tradition, there will be a Special Guest Performer to arrive as “entertainment” in the ball within the opera; this performer is none other than renowned Canadian Baritone, Russell Braun! Don’t miss the opportunity to experience this internationally acclaimed singer! Tickets to this marvelous performance would certainly make an incredible Christmas gift!

The operetta opens with the incorrigible Eisenstein, on the eve he is to be lead to jail for a minor misdemeanor sentence, decides he would rather dally with ladies other than his wife at a ball given by Prince Orlofsky. His supposed friend, Dr.Falke (who has a vengeful agenda of his own) persuades Eisenstein that he can hand himself over to the authorities after the party. Eisenstein’s wife, Rosalinda, bids him a tearful farewell whilst trying to entertain her former sweetheart Alfred who has arrived to serenade her. A prison guard arrives to escort Eisenstein to jail, whom he unwittingly presumes is Alfred, and leads the innocent hapless lover to prison. Amongst all the confusion, the chambermaid Adele decides that she is also worthy of a ball and decides to steal one of her mistress’ dresses in order to disguise herself and attend the event of the season. It is within this whirlwind of mixed identities and intrigue that Rosalinda receives an invitation (inconspicuously from Dr.Falke) stating that if she would like to witness her husband’s true nature to attend the Prince’s ball in disguise…… whom will trick whom when all of them collide in one ballroom?!

Premiering an all-Canadian cast, this period production features the vocal talents of Rachel Huys as the regal Rosalinda, Stefan Fehr in the role of the unfaithful Eisenstein, Anna Bateman as the uncompromising maid Adele, Douglas Tranquada as the vengeful Dr.Falke, and William Lewans, Louisa Cowie and Shane Glabb as Frank, Prince Orlofsky and Alfred respectively. A special guest star appearance in the role of Frosch will be by Robert Latimer-Cornell.

Start your New Year off on a High Note with OPERA KITCHENER! “Die Fledermaus” by Johann Strauss will be for only one Matinee only ~ Sunday January 3^rd 2010 at 3pm. Call the Humanities 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 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’s “DIE FLEDERMAUS” – an opera by Johann Stauss Jr –

Sunday January 3^rd, 2009 at 3:00pm

Humanities Theatre, University of Waterloo

200 University Avenue West, Waterloo Ontario

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

Sung in German 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.

Opera Kitchener presents Cosi Fan Tutte

OPERA KITCHENER presents

"COSI FAN TUTTE" by W.A. Mozart

Saturday October 3^rd, 2009 – 7:30pm

Sunday October 4^th, 2009 – 3:00pm

Faithfulness and fickleness, deception and disguises, all wrapped up in a comedic bow tied together with the sublime music of Mozart!

OPERA KITCHENER will open its 2009/2010 Season with W.A.Mozart's brilliant comedy "COSI FAN TUTTE", often translated as "All Women are Like That"; the title itself disclosing the atmosphere of this popular opera.

The opera begins with a bet; the consummate bachelor Don Alfonso wagers against his friends Ferrando and Guglielmo that their respected fiancés would not remain faithful if they were to leave them even for a short duration. Naturally, the men take up the offer and thus ensues the hilarious onslaught of tricks and disguises to see if the women, Fiordiligi and Dorabella, remain true. Who will prevail?

This highly performed opera is renowned for not necessary for its transcendent solo arias but rather for the intricate ensemble singing; the familiar duets, trios, sextets etc, are almost too beautiful to support the silliness of a comedic plot that instigates continuous laughter.

The cast, chorus and orchestra is comprised of mainly performers from the Waterloo Region, as well as Stratford and London residents, including the lead roles Bethany Horst (Fiordiligi), Jennifer Elisabetta Fina (Dorabella), Jeremy Ludwig (Guglielmo), Emilio Fina (Ferrando) and William Lewans (Don Alfonso).

Sung in Italian with English surtitles, this production will be fully staged and accompanied by orchestra at OPERA KITCHENER's new abode, the HUMANITIES THEATRE, located at 200 University Avenue West in Waterloo.

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 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's "COSI FAN TUTTE" – an opera by W.A.Mozart –

Saturday October 3^rd, 2009 at 7:30pm

Sunday October 4^th, 2009 at 3:00pm

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 upcoming 2009/2010 season.