"[Martinez] requires ranking among the top lyric sopranos of the day... [with] immaculate musicality underpinning every utterance." - Opera magazine (U.K.)
CAST
Ana María Martínez*** Cio-Cio-San
Joseph Calleja* Pinkerton
Levi Hernandez* Sharpless
Lucy Schaufer* Suzuki
Rodell Rosel Goro
Robert Pomakov The Bonze Tommy Ajai George Imperial Commissioner
Rachel Willis-Sørensen** Kate Pinkerton
Boris Dyakov** Prince Yamadori
CREATIVE TEAM
Patrick Summers Conductor
Michael Grandage* Director
Christopher Oram* Set and Costume Designer
Neil Austin* Lighting Designer Nicole Tongue Choreographer/Movement Director Brian Byrnes Fight Director
Richard Bado Chorus Master
Houston Grand Opera Orchestra and Chorus
* HGO debut ** HGO Studio Artist *** Former HGO Studio Artist
Brown Theater | Sung in Italian with English Surtitles At her wedding to Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton (Joseph Calleja) the Geisha, Cio-Cio-San (Ana María Martínez in a major role debut) promises to be his for life; just three years later, abandoned and on the verge of poverty, she and her young son wait with fierce hope for his return. This visually stunning new production by the internationally acclaimed creative team of director Michael Grandage (Hamlet – Broadway 2009; Frost/Nixon – Broadway 2007), designer Christopher Oram and lighting designer Neil Austin draws its inspiration from traditional Japanese art. HGO Music Director Patrick Summers conducts.
Grand Guarantors The Brown Foundation, Inc. Beth Madison
Guarantors Kinder Foundation Mr. John G. Turner and Mr Jerry G. Fischer Margaret Alkek Williams
Grand Underwriters Conoco Phillips H-E-B and Charles Butt A co-production with Geneva Opera
Tony Award Winners Create New Madame Butterfly for HGO "The team that swept the Tony awards is tackling one of opera's greatest warhorses — Madame Butterfly — in a new Houston Grand Opera production." - Culture Map Click here to read the entire article
"They dominated the Tony Awards on Sunday, and now the creative folks behind "Red" on Broadway have set their sights on another theatrical challenge -- a new production of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at the Houston Grand Opera." - LA TImes Click here to read the entire article
"What leading Houston arts company is as thrilled with Red's Tony triumph Sunday as that show's own Broadway producers? Houston Grand Opera, that's who." - Houston Chronicle blog Click here to read the entire post
Banner photo by Chuck Holloman
2010/11 Season Madame Butterfly | Peter Grimes | Dead Man Walking Lucia di Lammermoor | The Marriage of Figaro | Ariadne auf Naxos Recitals at Rienzi | Così fan tutte | To Cross the Face of the Moon
