9/12/15 – MADAMA BUTTERFLY – 1pm

San Francisco Opera

MADAMA BUTTERFLY Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Puccini’s heartbreaking tale of innocence, betrayal and sacrifice returns in a bold and beautiful production by Jun Kaneko, designer of San Francisco Opera’s dazzling production of The Magic Flute (2012). Patricia Racette, “who can rightly stand among the great Butterflies of her era” (Opera News), heads a superb cast including Elizabeth DeShong, acclaimed by The New York Times for her “rich, nuanced portrayal” of Butterfly’s maid Suzuki; Brian Jagde, who “supplied what so many other tenors on today’s main stage lack: soul” (San Francisco Classical Voice); and Brian Mulligan, a baritone with a “rich, secure” voice who is “capable of sensitivity and musicality in perfectly executed moments” (The New York Times). “The visual component of this production is so compelling, and so intelligent, that it lifts this opera to a new level” (Toronto Globe and Mail).

For a complete listing of all Madame Butterfly performances at San Francisco Opera, visit our online performance archive.

Sung in Italian with English supertitles
Approximate running time: 2 hours, 50 minutes including one intermission

Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly): Patricia Racette
Lt. B.F. Pinkerton: Brian Jagde
Suzuki: Elizabeth DeShong
Sharpless: Brian Mulligan
Goro: Julius Ahn
Kate Pinkerton: Jacqueline Piccolino
Prince Yamadori: Efrain Solis
The Bonze: Morris Robinson
Conductor: Nicola Luisotti

San Francisco Opera Chorus, Ian Robertson, chorus master

DIRECTOR LESLIE SWACKHAMER *
PRODUCTION DESIGNER JUN KANEKO
LIGHTING DESIGNER GARY MARDER
CHORUS DIRECTOR IAN ROBERTSON
CHOREOGRAPHER MELISSA NOBLE
FIGHT DIRECTOR DAVE MAIER
* SAN FRANCISCO OPERA DEBUT

photos: Cory Weaver