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Lyric Opera of Chicago for May 30, 2009
11:00 AM - 2:30 PM
[Program Website]
Today's Highlight: Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini
Frank Lopardo as B. F. Pinkerton and Patricia Racette as Cio-Cio-San in Lyric Opera of Chicago’s 2008-09 presentation of Madama Butterfly. Photo by Dan Rest/Lyric Opera of Chicago
Premiered in 1904, this beloved opera has at its heart a Japanese geisha, Cio-Cio-San, known as "Madama Butterfly" (soprano Patricia Racette). In a traditional Japanese ceremony arranged by marriage-broker Goro (tenor David Cangelosi) and in the presence of the American consul Sharpless (baritone James Westman/debut), Cio-Cio-San marries a lieutenant in the U. S. Navy, B. F. Pinkerton (tenor Frank Lopardo). But he does not take the marriage seriously and soon returns to America, promising to return "when the robins are nesting." Three years pass, with Cio-Cio-San – along with her maid Suzuki (mezzo-soprano Katharine Goeldner/debut) and her little son – waiting for Pinkerton to come back. When he finally does, accompanied by his American wife, Kate (soprano Amber Wagner), his wish to take his son to America leads to catastrophe for Cio-Cio-San.
Sir Andrew Davis, conductor; Donald Nally, chorus master. Sung in Italian.
The Matthew Bucksbaum Family Lyric Opera Broadcasts returns with opening night productions, following the end of the Metropolitan Opera season.
Since its early days, Lyric Opera of Chicago has been regarded as one of the top three US opera companies, along with the Met and San Francisco. Radio stations throughout America welcome the return of the Lyric Opera season rebroadcasts in the spring.
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