The Last Verista

OPERA KITCHENER with THE LIVING ARTS CENTRE presents

“MADAMA BUTTERFLY” by G.Puccini

Friday March 26th 2010 ~ 8pm

The most performed OPERA of all TIME

Opera’s most epic and exotic tale of passion and betrayal comes to THE LIVING ARTS CENTRE. A young woman must decide between living without dignity or dying with honour in the opera most performed throughout the world.

This fully staged performance will be sung in Italian, with English Surtitles, accompanied by orchestra, soloists and chorus conducted by Maestro Sabatino Vacca.

Puccini’s soaring melodies and iconic orchestration bring to life the tale of a young geisha girl, Cio-Cio San, also know as Madama Butterfly, who at the opening of the opera has been arranged to marry a U.S. Navel Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. However, the carefree young officer tells his friend, the American Counsel Sharpless, that although he likes Butterfly and will proceed with the ceremony, he won’t think much of it when he returns to America. With the arrival of all her guests and relatives, Butterfly reveals to Pinkerton that she has renounced her faith to be with him. As Pinkerton then realizes what Butterfly has given up for him, the gravity of this action climaxes: suddenly Butterfly’s Uncle, a high priest, arrives and curses the girl for forsaking the ancient religion of her ancestors. All the wedding guests leave, denouncing Cio-Cio San, and leave her to be comforted solely in the arms of her new husband. Can the two lovers overcome the ancient curse as cultures collide ?

As famous as the actual tale itself is the magnificent and memorable music that pours forth from the score; familiar arias such as the heart wrenching “Un bel Di” and “Addio, fiorito asil”, the duet of the young lovers “Vieni la sera”, and the hauntingly beautiful “Humming Chorus” all depict overwhelming emotions via of the power of the human voice soaring above an orchestra. Premiering an all-Canadian cast, this period production features the vocal talents of Suzanne Kilgore as the heroine Cio-Cio San (Madama Butterfly), Romulo Delgado as Pinkerton, Louisa Cowie as Suzuki and Mark Gardner as Sharpless.

MEDIA RELEASEDon’t miss this performance of the world’s most beloved opera: “Madama Butterfly” by G.Puccini will be for only one performance only ~ Friday March 26th 2010 at 8pm. Call the Living Arts Centre Box Office at 905.306.6000 or 1.888.805.8888 and book your tickets today!

OPERA KITCHENER is owned and operated by husband and wife team Emilio and Jennifer Fina. Their mandate is to present traditional, fully-staged professional operatic productions on a yearly basis, to provide the experience only opera can bestow to the public with affordable ticket prices and to employ the talents of resident musicians and artists of the community.

OPERA KITCHENER’s “MADAMA BUTTERFLY” – an opera by G.Puccini – Friday March 26th 2010 at 8pm The Living Arts Centre 4141 Living Arts Drive, Mississauga ON L5B 4B8

Fully staged with sets, costumes, orchestra, chorus and soloists Sung in German with English Surtitles

For Tickets call the Living Arts Centre Box Office at 905.306.6000 or 1.888.805.8888

Visit us at http://www.operakitchener.com for more information on this performance or our 2009/2010 season.