RETURNED to Limerick by the wind of public demand, the award winning ‘Madama Butterfly’ returns to Limerick with exquisite sets – and a sold out auditorium, UCH this April 4.
As well as the celestial score, and stellar cast, anticipate a spectacular Japanese garden and richly embroidered costumes of the era such as antique wedding kimonos.
Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl and her heartfelt, inadvised love for an American naval lieutenant. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.
International Korean soprano Maria HeeJung Kim from the National Opera House of Seoul will be making her debut in the UK and Ireland singing the role of the tragic Cio Cio San. The talented young star studied in Milan and made her debut as Madama Butterfly at La Scala, Milan.
HeeJung Kim has sung Madama Butterfly and La Traviata at major Opera Houses in Europe.
Making his debut as Pinkerton in an Ellen Kent production is the Ukrainian tenor Vitalii Liskovetsky from the Kiev National Opera. Liskovetskyi, originally trained as a military pilot, has made his debut on an Ellen Kent tour in 2015 in Carmen and Tosca, followed by a huge success in Aida, La Boheme and Nabucco.
Zara Vardanean, the American mezzo-soprano, trained at the Vienna State Opera, returns to sing the part of Suzuki.
The operas will be conducted by Vasyl Vasylenko, who is the artistic director and conductor at the National President’s Orchestra of Ukraine, Kiev, and the guest conductor and artistic director of the National Opera of Moldova, Nicolae Dohotaru. With 30 members of the National Ukrainian Orchestra.
