Puccini’s Beloved Madama Butterfly Returns to San Diego
American soprano Patricia Racette performs signature role Cio-Cio-San Tenor Carlo Ventre returns as Pinkerton
San Diego, CA – San Diego Opera is proud to present Puccini’s Madama Butterfly as the fifth and final opera of the 2009 season which opens on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at 7 PM for five performances. Returning to San Diego Opera in the title role is American soprano Patricia Racette who has made Cio-Cio-San her signature role, performing it to critical and popular acclaim in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and in New York at the Metropolitan Opera. Also returning to San Diego Opera is Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre who dazzled audiences last season as Radames in Aida. Returning to San Diego Opera to round out the cast is American baritone Malcolm MacKenzie as Sharpless, Chinese mezzo-soprano Zhen Cao as Suzuki, Taiwanese tenor Joseph Hu as Goro, American bass Scott Sikon as The Bonze and American soprano Crystal Jarrell as Kate Pinkerton. San Diego Opera’s principal guest conductor Edoardo Müller conducts the performances and American Garnett Bruce will stage the production.
In Puccini’s tragic opera, Madama Butterfly, the American naval officer Pinkerton marries a Japanese geisha named Cio-Cio-San (who is also known as Butterfly). Pinkerton takes the relationship lightly despite the warnings of the American consul, Sharpless. Pinkerton returns to America, and Butterfly gives birth to their child whom she names Trouble while she waits for her husband to return. When Pinkerton does return he brings with him his American wife and Cio-Cio-San must choose to live in disgrace or die with her honor intact. With the famous aria “Un bel dì” and the haunting “Humming Chorus” Madama Butterfly is full of beautiful music that will stay with the audience long after they have left the theatre.
Madama Butterfly was last performed by San Diego Opera in 2003. This production is owned by San Diego Opera with sets by Michael Yeargan and costumes by Anita Yavich.
Pre-production photos can be found online at:
http://www.sdopera.com/pressphotos/09Overview.aspx
Electronic Press Kits for this opera, including multimedia content can be found online at:
http://www.sdopera.com/epk/Default.aspx
The Cast
Patricia Racette, Cio-Cio-San
American soprano Patricia Racette made her San Diego Opera debut in 1995 as Mimì in La bohème, returned in 2001 as Love Simpson in Cold Sassy Tree (a role she created for the World Premiere at Houston Grand Opera), and again in 2004 for the title role of Kátya Kabanová. Racette has developed strong relationships with the Metropolitan Opera, the San Francisco Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Houston Grand Opera, and the Santa Fe Opera. Seen regularly at these houses, her many roles include Violetta in La traviata, Blanche de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites, Mimì and Musetta in La bohème, the title role in Jenufa, Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly, Alice Ford in Falstaff, Liu in Turandot, Desdemona in Otello, the title role of Kátya Kabanová, Marguerite in Faust, Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes, Micaela in Carmen, the title role in Luisa Miller, Leonora in Il trovatore, Amelia in Simon Boccanegra, Antonia in The Tales of Hoffmann, Elisabetta in Don Carlo, Mathilde in Guillaume Tell, Margherita in Boito’s Mefistofele, and Fosca in Passion. Racette has also appeared at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Wiener Staatsoper; the Teatro alla Scala, the Welsh National Opera, Opéra National de Paris, the Saito Kinen Festival, and the Grand Théâtre de Genève. A supporter of new works by today’s leading composers, she created the title role in Tobias Picker’s Emmeline and appeared in the Metropolitan Opera's World Premiere of An American Tragedy.
Carlo Ventre, Pinkerton
Uruguayan tenor Carlo Ventre made his San Diego Opera debut in 2005 as Gabriele in Simon Boccanegra and returned in 2008 as Radames in Aida. For his La Scala debut, he sang the Duke in Rigoletto and also appeared there as Ismaele in Nabucco. Roles for Welsh National Opera include Rodolfo in La bohème and Cavaradossi in Tosca. Other roles include Don José in Carmen, Alfredo in La traviata, Pollione in Norma, and the title role of Andrea Chénier. He has sung in opera houses in Berlin, Rome, San Francisco, Vienna, St. Petersburg, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Washington, Verona, Chicago, Genoa and Cologne.
Malcolm MacKenzie, Sharpless
American baritone Malcolm MacKenzie first performed with San Diego Opera as Marullo in Rigoletto in 2002, returned in 2005 as Escamillo in Carmen, as Zurga in The Pearl Fishers in 2008 and earlier this season as Marullo in Rigoletto. He was a finalist in Plácido Domingo’s Operalia competition, and a winner of the Metropolitan Opera Western Regional Auditions. MacKenzie began his professional career in 1994 as Harlequin in Ariadne auf Naxos at Glimmerglass Opera and has since performed with Washington National Opera, Madison Opera, l’Opéra National de Paris, Los Angeles Opera, Michigan Opera Theatre, Sacramento Opera and Opera Pacific. His roles include Donald in Billy Budd, Masetto and the title role of Don Giovanni, Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Marcello and Schaunard in La bohème and Albert in Werther. He has also appeared with the San Diego Symphony, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Los Angeles Mozart Orchestra, Pacific Chorale and Savannah Symphony.
Zheng Cao, Suzuki
Chinese mezzo-soprano Zheng Cao made her San Diego Opera debut in 1998 as Suzuki in Madama Butterfly and returned in 2001 as Siebel in Faust. For San Francisco Opera, she has performed Idamante in Idomeneo: King of Crete, Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Dorabella in Così fan tutte, Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann, Siebel in Faust and Suzuki in Madama Butterfly, a role she has sung for Los Angeles Opera and Théâtre de Geneve. For Washington National Opera, Michigan Opera and Kentucky Opera, she has sung Rosina in The Barber of Seville and other roles and houses include Zerlina in Don Giovanni and Penelope in Il Ritorno di Ulisse in Patria for Los Angeles Opera, Nicklausse in The Tales of Hoffmann for Opera Pacific, Sesto in Julius Caesar in Egypt for Pittsburgh Opera, Varvara in Kátya Kabanová and Magali in the world premiere production of Salsipuedes for Houston Grand Opera. Next season includes appearances with the San Francisco Opera in The Bonesetter’s Daughter and Opera Pacific as Rosina. An active concert soloist, she has performed with Honolulu Symphony, San Francisco Ballet, National Symphony Orchestra, Warsaw Philharmonic, Boston Symphony and The J.F.K. Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Joseph Hu, Goro
Taiwanese tenor Joseph Hu made his San Diego Opera debut as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor in 1995. His many performances here include Goro in Madama Butterfly, Spoletta in Tosca, the Steersman in The Flying Dutchman, Roderigo in Otello, Pong in Turandot, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Count Lerma in Don Carlo, the Messenger in Samson and Delilah, Ruiz and the Messenger in Il trovatore, Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro and earlier this season as Spoletta in Tosca and Borsa in Rigoletto. Among other companies with which he has sung are The Dallas Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Kentucky Opera, Nashville Opera, Fort Worth Opera and Dayton Opera.
Scott Sikon, The Bonze
Since his San Diego Opera debut in 1991 as Superintendent Budd in Albert Herring, American bass-baritone Scott Sikon has sung more than twenty roles here including Schaunard in La bohème, Monterone in Rigoletto, Dikoi in Kátya Kabanová, Steve Hubble in A Streetcar Named Desire, Montano in Otello, Morales in Carmen, Curio in Julius Caesar in Egypt, the Second Philistine in Samson and Delilah, the First Journeyman in Wozzeck, Antonio in The Marriage of Figaro, Reinmar von Zweter in Tannhäuser and earlier this season as Sacristan in Tosca and Count Monterone in Rigoletto. He has performed throughout the United States with Houston Grand Opera, San Francisco Opera, New York City Opera, The Dallas Opera, Hawaii Opera Theatre, Cincinnati Opera and Cleveland Opera. His European debut was at the Vienna Volksoper in the premiere of The Number 11 Bus. An active concert artist, Scott Sikon has performed with the Spoleto Festival USA, the San Antonio Symphony and the Arkansas Symphony.
Joe Pechota, Imperial Commissioner
Japanese tenor Joe Pechota was made his stage debut in 1982 as the eunuch Il Corsaro. His many roles with the Company include the Prince of Persia and a Mandarin in Turandot, a courtier in Henry VIII, the Registrar in Madama Butterfly, the Gravedigger in Hamlet, Paris in Romeo and Juliet and the Sergeant in La bohème. He is a member of the San Diego Opera chorus and appears regularly with Lyric Opera of San Diego as well as with the La Jolla Symphony and Chorus.
Jason Detwiler, Prince Yamadori
San Diego Opera debut. Baritone Jason Detwiler has sung Marcello in La bohème for Opera Idaho, the title role of Eugene Onegin for Virginia Opera, Jack Rance in La Fanciulla del West with Rimrock Opera, the title role in Pilgrim's Progress with Trinity Lyric Opera, title role in Macbeth and Yeletsky in Pikovaya Dama for West Bay Opera, and Billy Bigelow in Carousel with Shreveport Opera. He has performed with Apollo Sierra Opera, Sacramento Opera, West Bay Opera, Opera Idaho and Festival Opera of Walnut Creek in roles such as Valentin in Faust, Silvio in Pagliacci, Alfio in Cavalleria rusticana, Escamillo in Carmen, Marcello in La bohème , John Proctor in The Crucible, Germont in La traviata and the title roles in Don Giovanni, The Marriage of Figaro and The Flying Dutchman, among others.
Crystal Jarrell, Kate Pinkerton
American mezzo-soprano Crystal Jarrell made her Company debut earlier this season as Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto. She recently performed Kate Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly and Stephano in Romeo and Juliet with Nashville Opera, Olga in The Merry Widow with Indianapolis Opera and as The Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors with San Antonio Opera. Other roles in her repertoire include Cherubino in The Marriage of Figaro, Olga in Eugene Onegin, Emily in The Ballad of Baby Doe, Mary Stone in The Devil and Daniel Webster and Zita in Gianni Schicchi. She has performed the music of Bizet and J. Strauss in concert with the Indianapolis Arts Chorale and Bloomington Symphony Orchestra and has appeared in concert at the Indianapolis Film Festival performing highlight of Carmen. Jarrell is an alumna of the young artist program of Nashville Opera, Utah Festival Opera and Indianapolis Opera. She is currently a second year member of the San Diego Opera Ensemble.
Edoardo Müller, Conductor
Italian conductor and San Diego Opera’s Principal Guest Conductor, Edoardo Müller, has led more than 30 productions in San Diego, beginning in 1980 with Giovanna d’Arco. Last season he conducted Mary, Queen of Scots and Cavalleria rusticana / Pagliacci and earlier this season he conducted Tosca and Rigoletto.. Known worldwide for his mastery of the Italian operatic repertoire, he has enjoyed a long association with the Teatro alla Scala in Milan where he conducted Aida, I due Foscari, Il trovatore, I masnadieri, La forza del destino, Ernani, The Barber of Seville and Anna Bolena, among others. His career has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, Seattle Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, The Dallas Opera, Cincinnati Opera as well as companies in Paris, Rome and Tokyo.
Garnett Bruce, Director
This production of Madama Butterfly marks the third occasion that American director Garnett Bruce has directed this opera for the Company, including his Company debut in 1998 and a revival in 2003. For the Company he also directed Cold Sassy Tree in 2001, Vanessa in 2005 and Aida in 2008. He has directed Street Scene and La Clemenza di Tito with Wolf Trapp Opera, La bohème for Lyric Opera Kansas City and The Dallas Opera, Tosca and Madama Butterfly at Houston Grand Opera, Carmen for Palm Beach Opera and Jenufa for The Dallas Opera. Garnett Bruce has served on the staffs of San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Dallas Opera and Washington National Opera over the past years.
Michael Yeargan, Scenic Designer
American scenic designer, Michael Yeargan made his debut with San Diego Opera with Aida, first seen in 1996 and repeated in 2001 and 2008. For San Diego Opera he also designed Madama Butterfly in 1998 and 2003, A Streetcar Named Desire in 2000, Cold Sassy Tree in 2001 and Carmen in 2006. Michael won a Tony Award© for Best Scenic Design for his work on The Light in the Piazza in 2005 and for South Pacific in 2008. He is a professor of stage deign at the Yale School of Drama and the resident designer for the Yale Repertory Theatre, where he has designed more than 50 productions. His opera credits include set design for Harbison’s The Great Gatsby for Metropolitan Opera, Bolcom’s A View from the Bridge for Lyric Opera of Chicago and Simon Boccanegra and Dead Man Walking for San Francisco Opera. He has also designed productions for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Welsh National Opera, Frankfurt Opera, Opera Australia and the Scottish Opera.
Anita Yavich, Costume Designer
Chinese Costume Designer Anita Yavich made her San Diego Opera debut designing costumes for Madama Butterfly in 1998. Other designs for opera include Cyrano at Milan's La Scala, the Metropolitan Opera and Royal Opera, Covent Garden, Les Troyens for the Metropolitan Opera, Osvaldo Golijov's Ainadamar for Tanglewood, The Gambler for Opera Zuid, A Measure of Joy for Chanticleer, Three Tales for Vienna Festival and international tour, Fidelio, Die Walkure and Das Rheingold for Washington National Opera, Arsace II at San Francisco Opera, Madame Butterfly at Houston Grand Opera and Grande Thèâtre de Genève, The Flying Dutchman at Spoleto Festival and The Silver River at Spoleto and Lincoln Center Festival. She has designed costumes for productions at Seattle Rep, Classic Stage, Philadelphia Theater Company, The Signature, The Public, Ballet Hispanico and was the puppet and costume designer for The Sound of Music at Salzburger Marionetten Theater and international tour.
Alan Burrett, Lighting Designer
English Lighting Designer Alan Burrett made his San Diego Opera debut in Madama Butterfly in 1998 and returned in 2003. His internationally acclaimed work for theatre, dance and opera has been seen in over 30 countries. He began his career as the resident designer with Bejart ballet in Brussels designing sets, costumes and lights for many productions and did the same as Technical Director for the Ballet Opera of Lyon. He continued his lighting career in the UK and Europe designing at the Royal Shakespeare Company, The Royal National Theater, Royal Opera Covent Garden, The Paris Opera, Munich Opera and the Burgtheater Vienna. He lit large-scale arena productions of the operas Carmen and Tosca in London, Germany, Australia and Japan and the complete works of Beckett for the Gate Theatre in Dublin, New York and London. He has also served as the head of lighting at the English National Opera and, in 1995, began collaborations with Los Angeles Opera becoming their first resident lighting designer and designed twenty-five productions. Other projects include the 300th Anniversary of Moliere at the Comedie Francaise, productions for the Paris Opera Ballet and French television, the 1992 World’s Fair Spanish Pavilion and lighting for the U.S. tour of Duran Duran. In 2008, Burrett became Professor and head of the Lighting Design program at the University of California San Diego.
About the Producers’ Circle Sponsors
These performances of Madama Butterfly are made possible by Peter Farrell/Farrell Family Foundation (Co-Title Sponsors) and Charles and Tanya Brandes (Co-Title Sponsors).
Performance Schedule
Saturday, May 9, 2009 - 7 PM
Tuesday, May 12, 2009 - 7 PM
Friday, May 15, 2009 - 8 PM
Sunday, May 17, 2009 - 2 PM
Wednesday, May 20, 2009 - 7 PM
Educational Events Surrounding Madama Butterfly
Artists’ Roundtable
Meet the singers, conductor and director of Madama Butterfly in this free and informal panel discussion on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 5:30 PM in the Beverly Sills Salon, Civic Theatre. Free.
Pre- Opera Lectures
These 30-minute informative lectures take place in the Civic Theatre one-hour prior to every performance and offer wonderful insight into the production audience members are about to see. These lectures are free to all ticket holders and are generously sponsored by The San Diego Union-Tribune.
San Diego OperaTalk! with Nick Reveles
Join Dr. Nicolas Reveles, San Diego Opera’s Geisel Director of Education, for a fascinating half-hour television program on Madama Butterfly. Viewers will learn about the story, music and history of each opera and will pick up rich insight into the structure and composition of the music. OperaTalk! with Nick Reveles airs on UCSD-TV. For a complete listing of schedules and where to view it visit:
http://www.sdopera.com/education/operatalk.aspx
San Diego Opera Spotlight
Produced by San Diego Opera and UCSD-TV, the award-winning San Diego Opera Spotlight gives viewers a unique and entertaining look behind-the-scenes of each of San Diego Opera’s five main-stage productions. Viewers will see how the singers, directors, conductor and crew work together to create each opera, get a sneak peak at rehearsal footage and hear exclusive interviews with the stars. San Diego Opera Spotlight Madama Butterfly airs on Friday, May 8 at 9:00 PM on UCSD-TV and repeats daily throughout the run of the production. For a complete listing of schedules and where to view it visit:
http://www.sdopera.com/education/spotlight.aspx
Purchasing Tickets
Three, four or five-opera subscriptions for the 2009 International Season are now available. Regular subscriptions range from $87 - $850 (some Saturday subscriptions slightly higher) and can be purchased by calling (619) 533-7000 or online at
www.sdopera.com.
Weekday Super Savings Subscription Packages are also available which offer a full series of five operas for the price of four and can be purchased by calling (619) 533-7000 or online at
www.sdopera.com.
For information about single tickets please visit
www.sdopera.com or call (619) 533-7000 to speak to an opera representative.
$20 rush tickets, subject to availability, are available 90-minutes prior to performances. There is a one-ticket per person limit. Cash and credit cards only.
