Hallé – Season Finale: Madama Butterfly

Sir Mark Elder conductor

Puccini Madama Butterfly (Complete) 165′
Semi-Staged Performance With Subtitles

Cast includes:
Eri Nakamura soprano Cio-Cio San
Thomas Atkins tenor Pinkerton
Vladislav Sulimsky baritone Sharpless
Ann Taylor mezzo-soprano Suzuki
Jihoon Kim bass Bonze
Alasdair Elliott tenor Goro
Ashley Riches bass/baritone Prince Yamadori
Katie Coventry mezzo-soprano Kate Pinkerton

Gerard Jones director

During Sir Mark’s tenure as the Hallé’s Music Director, semi-staged operas have become legendary; he’s long wanted to perform with the orchestra what he feels is Puccini’s greatest score, Madama Butterfly. When Puccini saw Belasco’s play Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan in 1900, he instantly knew its operatic potential. Although its premiere at La Scala two years later wasn’t a success, it rapidly became an essential part of the repertoire of opera houses worldwide. A story of love betrayed, at its heart is the gentle heroine Cio-Cio San (‘Butterfly’ of the title); her aria ‘Un bel di vedremo’, and the ‘Humming Chorus’ are but two of the opera’s glorious inspirations. A world-class cast is led by the young Japanese soprano Eri Nakamura who has captivated audiences at Covent Garden, establishing her international reputation.