Irish National Opera and RTÉ, in association with the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre and in partnership with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, will launch a new RTÉ Player Exclusive: Irish National Opera’s production of Puccini’s tragic opera “Madama Butterfly.” Opera fans will be able to watch Ben Barnes’ thrilling production exclusively on RTÉ Player via their smartphones, tablets or TVs starting {…}
Writing a review can be a rather unique experience. Often we make a statement about a performance, expecting it to blanket an entire run of shows. After the first performance or second, we might be tempted to make the claim that either it was a mediocre performance with “decent” singers or we were impressed by the evening that exceeded any {…}
The Nashville Opera has announced its 2019-20 season which will feature four operas. The season opens with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” featuring soprano Elizabeth Caballero as Cio-Cio San. The performances are set to take place at TPAC Jackson Hall. Performance Dates: Oct. 10, 12, 2019 In time for the holidays, the company will produce “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” with two {…}
Opera in the Heights (OH) is set to present “Madama Butterfly” in a co-production with Pacific Opera Project. The opera translates its original Italian libretto into Japanese and English and will feature Japanese-American singers in the Japanese roles. OH Artistic Director and Principal Conductor Eiki Isomura, who conducts all performances, has adapted the libretto for the Japanese-speaking characters, and Pacific {…}
Opera San José will conclude its 35th season with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” directed by Brad Dalton. The production, which features set design by Kent Dorsey and costumes by Alyssa Oania, will run for six performances at the California Theatre in downtown San José. Maria Natale will star in the role of Cio-Cio-san, alongside Dane Suarez and Derek Taylor, who will {…}
On May 2, 3, and 5, Stone Brewing-Berlin turns again into the capital’s fifth opera house as it presents Puccini’s”Madama Butterfly.” Directed by Teresa Reiber, the opera will be showcased against the backdrop of the steel brewing kettles of the world-class destination restaurant Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens, Berlin. The work is set to star an international cast from {…}
The Atlanta Opera has announced its 2019-20 season. According to the press release, for its 40th anniversary season, The Atlanta Opera will present operas which fall under the overarching theme of “dangerous liaisons,” where the “protagonists share a propensity for self-destructive relationships that threaten to bring about their downfall.” Additionally, during this season four internationally acclaimed artists will return home to {…}
It takes years for an artist to reach his or her “peak.” Years of constant work, precision, and experience are some of the keys to finding yourself fulfilling the dreams that you initially set out to conquer. And in some cases, that might not be enough. Soprano Ermonela Jaho has been performing around the opera world for over 25 years {…}
Tosca. Mimí. Rodolfo and his bohemian friends. Musetta. Suor Angelica. Manon Lescaut. Gianni Schicchi. Turandot. Cio-Cio San. The list goes on and on when it comes to Puccini’s iconic characters. Each and everyone is crucial to the composer’s output and the way that he gives them each unique voices are a part of the reason for his transcendence. In honor {…}
Giacomo Puccini lived during the age of Verismo, but he couldn’t easily be pinned down to said opera genre. In fact, much like Verdi before him, he was far greater because he defies categorization. Puccini’s works strive for the same exoticism that we find in composers that preceded him and like Verdi’s forays into “Ancient Egypt” or Rossini’s into Algiers {…}
Puccini is undeniably one of those names that will forever be linked with opera. Born on Dec. 22, 1858 (his full name was Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini) in Lucca, Italy, he was set to occupy the position of maestro di cappella after his father’s death. However, he was only six-years-old and unable to occupy the position his {…}
