Passion and Drama of Madama Butterfly

Rehearsals are underway for the final production of Vancouver Opera’s Golden Anniversary Season: a stunning Madama Butterfly, designed by Japanese-born sculptor Jun Kaneko and featuring Japanese soprano Mihoko Kinoshita in the title role and tenor James Valenti, winner of the 2010 Richard Tucker Prize, as Pinkerton.

VO Music Director Jonathan Darlington, acclaimed for his recent work on VO’s The Marriage of Figaro, conducts the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and the Vancouver Opera Chorus (Leslie Dala, Associate Conductor and Chorus Director). The stage director is Leslie Swackhamer.

Rooted in Japanese tradition yet decidedly timeless, Kaneko’s sets and costumes complement and intertwine perfectly with Puccini’s intensely emotional music. The design is “visually daring while remaining true to the essence of the music and drama,” raved Opera magazine, “Kaneko…has a perceptive eye for theatrical and dramatic effect…a splendidly integrated work of art.”

This exquisitely beautiful production will ignite imaginations as it breaks hearts. For a closer look at the process of bringing Madama Butterfly to the stage, visit www.vancouveropera.ca for rehearsal footage, cast interviews, podcasts and VO’s exclusive Opera Manga.


The Singers
Making her Vancouver Opera début is Japanese soprano Mihoko Kinoshita, one of the world’s most in-demand Butterflies (Cio-Cio-San). “Her every inflection, physical as well as vocal, is real. Her death is nearly unbearable,” praises the Detroit News, “…Kinoshita’s vocal accomplishment is absolute. …bound up in Kinoshita’s vocal prowess is her stage savvy. Her acting instincts elevate her singing to a devastating naturalism. We believe in this ingenuous Butterfly as surely as she believes in her marriage to the long-departed Lt. Pinkerton.”

Also making his VO début is tenor James Valenti, winner of the prestigious 2010 Richard Tucker Prize, singing Pinkerton. He has been praised by the New York Post for his “even lyric tenor, an aristocratic way with a vocal line and easy confidence” (as well as his “smoldering good looks”.) “Like [Pavarotti], he is able to capture the “soul” in singing. Bravo!” raved Dallas’ Pegasus News.

Full Ticket Information
Opening night is Saturday, May 29, 2010, with subsequent performances Tuesday, June 1, Thursday, June 3, Saturday, June 5, Tuesday, June 8 and Thursday, June 10. All performances take place at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, Georgia and Hamilton Streets, Vancouver, B.C. and begin at 7:30pm. Tickets are available exclusively at the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre, online at www.vancouveropera.ca or by telephone
(604-683-0222). See complete ticket information below.

Single tickets are available from the Vancouver Opera Ticket Centre, online at www.vancouveropera.ca, or by phone at 604-683-0222. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are accepted.

Groups: For special pricing for groups of ten or more, call 604-683-0222.

Vancouver Opera’s Golden Anniversary Season is generously sponsored by Goldcorp, Inc.