Pittsburgh Opera - 2012-13 Season

Love changes all. Not always for the better.

Tickets Saturday, March 16, 2013 - 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 19, 2013 - 7:00 PM Friday, March 22, 2013 - 8:00 PM Sunday, March 24, 2013 - 2:00 PM	Watch the Madama Butterfly v-postcard. Watch video from our final dress rehearsal. Watch video from Meet the Artists (3/19/13).

Summary

Cio-Cio San's open heart and trusting nature are the reasons that Pinkerton should love her, and the reasons that we weep at the end of the opera.
We're introduced to the lopsided love between a young Japanese woman and Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, a U.S. Naval officer. The young woman, nicknamed Butterfly, gives up her family and her religion to be with Pinkerton. Pinkerton gives up nothing, and promptly leaves for nearly three years. He eventually returns, with his American wife, and the young Butterfly is mortally devastated.

Performance Details and Resources

• All performances of Madama Butterfly are at the Benedum Center.
• Audio Commentary is available at the TUESDAY, March 19 performance.
• UNDERSTAND EVERY WORD: Sung in Italian with English texts projected above the stage.
• Estimated run time is 2 hours, 45 minutes, with 1 intermission.
• Join us one hour before each performance for the Pre-Opera Talk. Free to all performance ticketholders, Pre-Opera Talks are full of insights on the opera, the composer, and more!

2012-2013 Season Sponsor: PNC
Production Sponsor: EQT
Opening Night Sponsor: Capital Grille
Media Sponsor: WSHH-FM 99.7
Pittsburgh Opera is a proud member of

2013 is the Year of Italian Culture.

Photos: David Bachman Photography

Previews and Reviews

PREVIEW: "...a tale of love, death, betrayal and more" - Tribune-Review, 3/10/13
PREVIEW: "...tenor has little trouble with the top of his range" - Post-Gazette, 3/14/13
PREVIEW: "...'Butterfly' brings director back home" - Imagine Pittsburgh Now, 3/15/13
REVIEW: Customer Review #1, 3/16/13 - a couple's first time at the opera
REVIEW: Customer Review #2, 3/16/13 - a subscriber's comments
REVIEW: "...an unusual staging of Madama Butterfly" - Tribune-Review, 3/18/13
REVIEW: "A night at the opera..." - Wheeling Intelligencer, 3/18/13
REVIEW: "Pittsburgh Opera's 'Butterfly' soars" - Post-Gazette, 3/18/13
REVIEW: "Cultural lessons on respect for women" - Pgh Lesbian Correspondents, 3/20/13
REVIEW: "PIttsburgh Opera's Madama Butterfly" - Great Scott! Blog, 3/20/13
REVIEW: "In the big city: Madama Butterfly" - Tall Tales from a Small Town, 3/21/13

Related Events

Pre-Opera Talks	Opera Up Close
Meet the Artists Q&A	OPERAEncore
Brown Bag Concerts

Additional Features

Read the story of Madama Butterfly

The Cast and Artistic Team

Music and Videos

NEW! View the STUDY GUIDE for Madama Butterfly, produced by our Education Department

Cast and Artistic Team

(cast is listed in order of vocal appearance)

Bryan Hymel+ Lt. Pinkerton	Joseph Gaines Goro	Mika Shigematsu+ Suzuki	Dwayne Croft Sharpless
Maria Luigia Borsi+ Cio-Cio San	Joseph Barron* The Bonze	Kyle Oliver* Prince Yamadori	Nicole Rodin* Kate Pinkerton

Conductor: Jean-Luc Tingaud
Stage Director: Crystal Manich
Set Designer: John Conklin
Costume Designer: Susan Memmott Allred
Lighting Designer: Cindy Limauro

Asst. Conductor: Glenn Lewis
Chorus Master: Mark Trawka
Associate Coach/Pianist: James Lesniak
Wig & Makeup Designer: James Geier
Assistant Director: Stephanie Havey*