The poignant story of love, loss, betrayal and sacrifice from one of the public's favourite operas continues to captivate audiences, although with a contemporary eye it can be seen as a very raw story about the young geisha. Damiano Michieletto moves Madama Butterfly to a slum in an oriental city. As Cio-Cio San, the voices of Saioa Hernández, Aleksandra Kurzak will alternate under the baton of Damiano Michieletto.
The Japanese civil code of 1898 – the Horei– established a legal framework which governed diverse aspects of public life as part of the libretto of Madama Butterfly. These include marriage, family rejection, divorce, or adoption. Imperialism, mixed race, and xenophobia are also elements of a narrative harness which navigates the well-mannered and acquiescent Oriental clichés of the preceding century while integrating the story of Cio-Cio San in a few coordinates of realism.
The finesse of Puccini’s score - in whose music authentic Japanese melodies resonate: «Izuki Uta», «Echigo-Jishi», «Sakurá», «Miyasan, Miyasan» or the Japanese national anthem «Kimi ga yo»– softens the edges of the drama without dismissing its tragic and sordid base, to construct what is probably the composer’s most well-done and profound feminine portrait. Along this line, Damiano Michieletto moves the action to a modern marginal neighbourhood of a big Asian city as a denunciation of a reality - sexual tourism - which lies at the heart of this iconic opera.
Tragedia giapponese in three acts
Music by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illic, based on the theatre play Madama Butterfly, by David Belasco, inspired at the same time, by a story written by John Luther Long
Premiere at Teatro alla Scala in Milan on 17 February 1904
Premiere at the Teatro Real on 20 November 1907
Production from Teatro Regio Torino
Artistic team
Musical conductor: Nicola Luisotti-30 jun; 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 21, 22 jul
Luis Miguel Méndez: 5, 11, 18 jul
Stage direction: Damiano Michieletto
Set design: Paolo Fantin
Costumes: Carla Teti
Lighting: Marco Filibeck
Chorus master: José Luis Basso
Cast
Reparto
Cio-Cio-San: Saioa Hernández __ 30 jun; 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 jul
Ailyn Pérez __ 1, 7, 10, 16, 21 jul
Lianna Haroutounian __3, 9, 14, 18 jul
Aleksandra Kurzak __ 5, 11, 17 jul
Suzuki: Silvia Beltrami __ 30 jun; 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 jul
Nino Surguladze __ 1, 7, 10, 16, 21 jul
Gemma Coma-Alabert __ 3, 5, 9, 11, 14, 17, 18 jul
F.B. Pinkerton: Matthew Polenzani __ 30 jun; 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 jul
Charles Castronovo __ 1, 7, 10, 16, 21 jul
Michael Fabiano __ 3, 9, 14, 18 jul
Leonardo Capalbo __ 5, 11, 17 jul
Sharpless: Lucas Meachem __ 30 jun; 4, 8, 12, 15, 19, 22 jul
Gerardo Bullón __ 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 16, 18, 21 jul
Luis Cansino __ 5, 9, 11, 17 jul
Goro: Mikeldi Atxalandabaso __ 30 jun; 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22 jul
Moisés Marín __ 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 jul
El príncipe Yamadori: Tomeu Bibiloni __ 30 jun; 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22 jul
Toni Marsol __ 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 jul
El tío Bonzo: Fernando Radó __ 30 jun; 3, 4, 8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 18, 19, 22 jul
George Andguladze __ 1, 5, 7, 10, 11, 16, 17, 21 jul
Kate Pinkerton: Marta Fontanals-Simmons
A tribute to Victoria de los Ángeles (1923-2005) in commemoration of the centenary of her birth (1 November 1923)
