‘Madame Butterfly’ opens in Sydney

Puccini’s verismo opera Madame Butterfly opens in Sydne this week with Hiromi Omura singing the title role, James Egglestone as Pinkerton and Michael Lewsi as Sharpless and Domenica Matthews as Suzuki. Ryusuke Numajiri will conduct the production, which premiered at La Scala in February 1904.

Fascinated by the orient, Puccini researched his material meticulously, speaking to Japanese artists, transcribing melodies from records sent from Tokyo and studying Japanese songs. He integrated authentic themes and harmonies into his score, complemented by his orchestration which included a tam-tam, Japanese bells glockenspiel and tubular bells.

Hiromi Omura as Cio-Cio San. Image: Branco Gaica
Hiromi Omura as Cio-Cio San and James Egglestone as Pinkerton. Image:Branco Gaica

 

James Egglestone as Pinkerton and Michael Lewis as Sharpless.Image: Branco Gaica

You can see Madame Butterfly on selected dates in the Opera Theatre of the Sydney Opera House from September 25th 2012 to 1st November 2012.

Bookings: http://www.opera-australia.org.au/whatson/events/detail?prodid=63150&noloc=true

Similar Posts

Handel’s Radamisto From The Apollo Opera Collective

Handel’s Radamisto From The Apollo Opera Collective

The Apollo Opera Collective presents Handel’s Radamisto. Under the musical direction of Keiren Brandt Sawdy, the production features the rising singers of Sydney’s opera world. These performances will be accompanied by the Orchestra of the Sydney Baroque Music Festival, comprising some of Australia’s best young historically informed instrumentalists. The Apollo Opera Collective is an exciting young…

Sydney Antiphony Explores Transience Through Music

Sydney Antiphony Explores Transience Through Music

For their second concert of 2015, Sydney Antiphony presents works by composers spanning 500 years, all exploring the inescapable human truth: the transience of our existence. At its centre, the concert features John Sheppard’s masterful Media Vita (‘In the midst of life we are in death’), a work groundbreaking in its length, structure and expressive…

Synergy Percussion Live

Synergy Percussion Live

Synergy Percussion pays tribute to Timothy Constable who recently resigned as Artistic Director, in a concert featuring works by Timothy, Ian Cleworth, Bree van Reyk and the percussion powerhouse work Peaux by Xenakis. This is the only concert by Synergy in Sydney for 2017 so do not miss what promises to be a spectacular concert and…

International Choral Insights: Choral Singing As A Social Tool

International Choral Insights: Choral Singing As A Social Tool

In tonight’s episode of International Choral Insights, two of Australia’s great choral educators converse as Lyn Williams AM sits down with Dr Jonathon Welch AM in Reimagine: Choirs and Social Justice, a discussion about the ways in which choral music is used in the community at all levels and particularly in response to social justice…

A historic evening with The NOISE – 7 composers gather to speak

A historic evening with The NOISE – 7 composers gather to speak

“Wherever we are, what we hear is mostly noise. When we ignore it, it disturbs us. When we listen to it, we find it fascinating.” John Cage, 1937 Next week, Sydney based string quartet The NOISE performs in Darlinghurst. The evening promises to be a historic one with 7 contemporary composers present. During the evening they…

Bel a cappella presents ‘Tenebrae’

Bel a cappella presents ‘Tenebrae’

Vocal ensemble Bel a capella presents its first concert for 2013, entitled Tenebrae, which in the Western Christian tradition is the performance of music and chants associated with darkness, or the extinguishing of lights. Musical Director Anthony Pasquill hands the baton to chorister and conductor Margot McLaughlin for a performance of Lamentations of Jeremiah by Thomas Tallis and resumes…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *