One of the world’s most
beloved operas, "Madama Butterfly," Puccini’s tragic tale of love and
heartbreak returns to the Union Avenue Opera stage.
In the
harbor village of Nagasaki at the turn of the 20th century, love
blossoms between Cio-Cio-San [Butterfly] a young Japanese geisha, and
Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer. Their marital
expectations clash in Madama Butterfly as passion and honor reverberate
with the explosive force of Puccini’s powerful score, featuring
Butterfly’s famous aria “Un bel di” and
the exquisite “Flower Duet.” A mother, alone and banished from her
people, Butterfly pines for her husband. He returns only to humiliate
and betray her beyond what she can endure.
Leading the cast as
Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) and Lt. Pinkerton are Ann Hoyt Wazelle
(Valencienne, "Die lustige Witwe") and Mathew Edwardsen (Gherman,
"Pikovaya Dama"). Other familiar faces include Robert Garner (Count
Almaviva, "Le Nozze di Figaro") as Sharpless; Debra Hillabrand (Mrs.
Patrick De Rocher, "Dead Man Walking") as Suzuki; Marc Schapman (Loge,
"Das Rheingold") as Goro; and David Dillard (Polyphemus, "Acis and
Galatea") as Bonze.
July 12, 13, 19, 20 at 8:00 pm
"Madama Butterfly" is presented by Raymond James & Associates, Inc. member New York Stock Exchange / SIPC
Friday Night Lecture Series: July 12 & 19
Join us for our Friday Night Lecture Series at 7pm in the Fellowship
Hall presented by Glen Bauer, Ph. D., Associate Chair, Department of
Music at Webster University. Lectures are free and open to the public.
"Madama Butterfly" will be presented in Italian with projected English supertitles.
To purchase tickets, call 314.361.2881, or visit www.unionavenueopera.org.