One of the most heart-rending of opera's victims
Several years have passed since Cio-Cio-San’s husband Lieutenant Pinkerton left her to return to America. She has never doubted for a second that he will come back to her. News indeed arrives that he has returned. But Cio-Cio-San could never imagine the real reason that Pinkerton has come back.
Madam Butterfly is tragic Italian opera at its most affecting. From the rapturous love-duet to the devastating ‘One fine day’, Puccini masterfully employs every note to immerse his audience in Cio-Cio-San’s tragic story. Joachim Herz’s classic, sepia-tinged production is like a beautiful old photograph. It is a nostalgic glimpse of a vanished world. Madam Butterfly promises a moving, breathtaking evening at the theatre.
Cast includes
Cio-Cio San Cheryl Barker (ex 1, 8, 15, 22 March and 5 April), Judith Howarth (1, 8, 15, 22 March and 5 April)
Pinkerton Gwyn Hughes Jones
Suzuki Claire Bradshaw
Bonze Julian Close
- Sung in Italian with surtitles in English (and Welsh in Cardiff, Swansea and Llandudno)
- Running time approximately 2 hours 40 minutes including one interval
- Make the most of your opera going with WNO Extra - Find out more
Conductor
Frédéric Chaslin (until 23 Mar); Gareth Jones (28 Mar - 6 Apr); Simon Phillippo (28 May - 4 June)
Original Director
Joachim Herz
Designer
Reinhart Zimmermann
Costume Designer
Eleonore Kleiber
Lighting Designer
John Waterhouse