This ‘Butterfly’ Has Wings

Sunday, April 3, 1 p.m., Orcas Center

— from Susannah Weaver —

Madama Butterfly

Anthony Minghella’s breathtaking production of Puccini’s masterpiece Madame Butterfly has thrilled audiences ever since its premiere at the Metropolitan Opera in 2006 and we are excited to stream it live to Orcas Center on Sunday, April 3 at 1:00 pm.

Kristine Opolais reprises her acclaimed portrayal of the title role, opposite tenor Roberto Alagna as Pinkerton, the naval officer who breaks Butterfly’s heart. One of the most and stirring musical pieces in the opera is the iconic Humming Chorus, which takes place off-stage as Butterfly, her son, and her maid Suzuki start the long vigil through the night as they wait for Pinkerton’s ship to dock at Nagasaki.

Puccini wrote five versions of the opera; the original two-act version, which was presented at the world premiere at La Scala on February 17, 1904, was withdrawn after the disastrous premiere. Puccini then substantially rewrote it, this time in three acts. This second version was performed on May 28, 1904 in Brescia, where it was a great success. It was this second version that premiered in the United States in 1906, first in Washington, D.C., in October, and then in New York in November, performed by Henry Savage’s New English Opera Company (so named because it performed in English-language translations).

In 1906, Puccini wrote a third version, which was performed at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. In 1907, Puccini made several changes in the orchestral and vocal scores, and this became the fourth version which was performed in Paris. In 1907, Puccini made his final revisions to the opera in a fifth version which has become known as the “Standard Version” and is the one which is most often performed around the world.

“Its striking and imaginative visuals, with haunting puppet work by Blind Summit Theatre, serve as a powerful augment to the tale of a trusting young woman who is betrayed and abandoned by a husband who never intends to honor his vow.” —New York Classical Review

“The sets and staging in this were breathtakingly beautiful, beyond mere mortal description, and I was captivated from the very first moment.” —INDB

Tickets for The Met: Live in HD’s Madame Butterfly are $20, $15 for students, $2 off for Orcas Center members, and may be purchased at www.orcascenter.org or by calling 376-2281 ext. 1 or visiting the Orcas Center Box Office open Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays from 12-2 pm. $5 subsidized tickets available at the Box Office. For more information about Orcas Center’s 2016 season visit www.orcascenter.org.