Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s popular tale which the hit West End musical Miss Saigon is based. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.
With exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan designed by the renowned Russian designer Felix Bessonov, from St Petersburg.
International Korean soprano Maria HeeJung Kim from the National Opera House of Seoul will be making her debut in the UK singing the role of the tragic Cio Cio San. HeeJung Kim, the talented young star studied in Milan and has made her debut as Madama Butterfly at the Milan Opera. HeeJung Kim has sung Madama Butterfly and La Traviata at major Opera Houses in Europe.
Alyona Kistenyova, the international soprano from Odessa National Opera will be returning after her critically acclaimed performances of Aida, La Boheme, Carmen, Tosca and Die Fledermaus.
Ruslan Zinevych will be returning to sing Pinkerton. Zinevych has previously sung with Pavarotti and was highly praised in the UK singing the performances of La Traviata, La Boheme, Carmen, Tosca, Die Fledermaus.
Making his debut as Pinkerton in an Ellen Kent production is the Ukrainian tenor Vitalii Liskovetskyi from the Kiev National Opera. Liskovetskyi, originally trained as a military pilot, has made his debut on an Ellen Kent tour in 2015 in Carmen and Tosca, followed by a huge success in Aida, La Boheme and Nabucco.
Giorgio Meladze, the Spanish tenor, is invited to open the tour at Bristol Hippodrome, after a succesful tour of Aida, La Boheme and Nabucco and will be singing the parts of Pinkerton and The Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto.
Zara Vardanean, the American mezzo-soprano, trained at the Vienna State Opera, returns to sing the part of Suzuki.
The operas will be conducted by Vasyl Vasylenko, who is the artistic director and conductor at the National President’s Orchestra of Ukraine, Kiev, and the guest conductor and artistic director of the National Opera of Moldova, Nicolae Dohotaru. With 30 members of the National Ukrainian Orchestra
Madama Butterfly – the heart-breaking story of the beautiful Japanese girl, who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant, resulting in heart wrenching drama. This magnificent production boasts beautiful sets and costumes and a large live orchestra. Highlights of the performance include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.
