Madama Butterfly Preview

Madama Butterfly Preview

by Lisa Hummel

First performed on February 17, 1904, in Milan, Italy, Madama Butterfly is the tale of two star-crossed lovers — one, a naïve and trusting Japanese girl called “Butterfly” and the other, a young, American Navy Lieutenant. Performed in Italian, with English supertitles, the legendary opera is set to take the stage of Whitaker Center during the first week of October.

Based on the drama by David Belasco and featuring the music of Giacomo Puccini and liberatto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, Madama Butterfly is the premiere opera at Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts to be presented by the Center’s resident opera company, The Harrisburg Opera.

An opera that is heralded for juxtaposing and blending cultural differences, Butterfly tells the tragic story of the young girl’s doomed passion for Lt. Pinkerton, the American officer who loves her and leaves her, only to return later with his American wife to claim his child. Based on a true series of events in turn-of-the-century Japan, the story of the young geisha was originally authored by John Luther Long and was later adapted into a play by the American playwright Belasco.

Madama Butterfly image One of the most famous operas ever written, the Harrisburg Opera Association’s rendition of the classic will feature both local and national performers. Japanese-born Kaori Sato will sing the title role of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly), a role that has brought her great acclaim for her performances with the Virginia and Tacoma Operas. The role of Suzuki will be sung by Barbara Rearick, a mezzo-soprano originally from Central Pennsylvania who has performed at the Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall, and who began singing the role 15 years ago. Singing the role of Sharpless will be current Lancaster resident John Darrenkamp, who has sung at the Metropolitan Opera for 22 seasons. Nicholas Loren, who performed the role of Valentin in the Association’s 1998 production of Faust, returns to Harrisburg to perform the role of the young lieutenant Pinkerton. Rounding out the ensemble are various notables from the local region, many of whom will be familiar faces to fans of the Harrisburg Opera Association’s productions.

Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will take the stage at Whitaker Center’s Sunoco Performance Theater on October 5 and 7 at 7p; and October 9 at 8p. Tickets are available by calling THE BOX at 214-ARTS.