Washington National Opera Presents Puccini’s Madama Butterfly 2/26-3/19

One of the world's most beloved operas returns in a romantic production: The innocent Butterfly catches the eye of an American Naval officer, who makes her his temporary "wife." When his time in Japan is over, he abandons her. Dishonored, Butterfly is bereft. Ana María Martínez and Catherine Naglestad star as Butterfly; Plácido Domingo and Philippe Auguin conduct. February 26-March 19 at the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets range from $25 to $300 for the main cast performances, and $15 to $75 for the Young Artist Performance. Tickets are available through WNO Audience Services, 202.295.2400 or www.dc-opera.org.

The double-cast production stars American sopranos Catherine Naglestad (Feb. 26, March 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17m) and Ana María Martínez (March 1, 4, 6m, 8, 13m, 19) as the beautiful Butterfly.

Russian tenor Alexey Dolgov (Feb 26, Mar 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17m) and Italian-Brazilian tenor Thiago Arancam (Mar 1, 4, 6m, 8, 13m, 19) share the role of the loutish Lieutenant Pinkerton. Rounding out the double cast are mezzo-sopranos Margaret Thompson (Feb 26, Mar 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17m, 19) and Ning Liang in her WNO debut (Mar 1, 4, 6m, 8, 13m) as Butterfly's faithful maid Suzuki; and baritones Michael Chioldi (Feb 26, Mar 2, 5, 7, 10, 14, 17m) and former Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Hyung Yun (Mar 1, 4, 6m, 8, 13m, 19) as the American consul Sharpless. American tenor RoBert Baker sings the role of Goro, the marriage broker.

Conducting the WNO Orchestra and Chorus are WNO General Director and world-famous tenor Plácido Domingo (Mar 8, 13m, 17m) and WNO's new Music Director Philippe Auguin (Feb 26, Mar 1, 2, 4, 5, 6m, 7, 10, 14, 19). The production features lighting by Stephen Strawbridge. Japanese choreographer Shizumi Shigeto Manale serves as movement coordinator.

In addition to the main-cast performances, WNO's Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program will offer a performance of Madama Butterfly on Tuesday, March 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Maestro Domingo conducts this performance, which features Young Artists Jennifer Lynn Waters as Butterfly, Jose Ortega as Lt. Pinkerton, Sarah Mesko as Suzuki and Aleksey Bogdanov as Sharpless. The Young Artist Program is WNO's two-year, resident training program for professional opera singers on the verge of international careers. The performance is open to the public and tickets range from $15 to $75.

TICKETS AND PATRON INFORMATION

Tickets range from $25 to $300 for main cast performances, and $15 to $75 for the Young Artist performance. Tickets are available through WNO Audience Services, 202.295.2400 or 800.US.OPERA, or online at www.dc-opera.org, and through the Kennedy Center at 202.467.4600 or online at www.kennedy-center.org.

All performances of Washington National Opera's Madama Butterfly are held in the Kennedy Center Opera House, located at 2700 F Street NW, Washington, D.C. Casting, program, schedules and pricing are subject to change without notice. WNO is committed to serving patrons with disabilities. Wheelchair accessible seating is available in all price categories for all operas. Contact Audience Services at 202.295.2400, email adacoordinator@dc-opera.org, or visit www.dc-opera.org for more information. For information about specially priced tickets, available through Generation O (for patrons 18 to 35) and other programs, visit www.dc-opera.org.

 

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