Boston Lyric Opera's Madama Butterfly a Triumph

BY RACHEL ROME
Boston Lyric Opera’s 30th Anniversary Season begins with Giacomo Puccini’s masterpiece Madama Butterfly, starring the incredibly talented Kelly Kaduce in the starring role, and conducted by Keith Lockhart. This beloved opera is a timeless story love of betrayal and devotion, centering on the heart-wrenching young Japanese girl who kills herself rather than live without honor. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Madama Butterfly has been enchanting audiences for more than 100 years.
Kelly Kaduce, a Boston-trained soprano, returns to BLO to sing the role of Cio-Cio-San following her debut in Thaïs in April of 2006. Tenor Gerard Powers debuts with the Company as B. F. Pinkerton, her selfish American husband. His powerful voice, handsome demeanor and stage presence perfectly complement our heroine, Butterfly, yet he is, until the last Act, a selfish, rotten scoundrel. Yet Butterfly loves him, and therein lays her downfall. The opera is set in Japan in 1904, a time when foreigners were first admitted to the country after 200 years of isolation. Western men invented a custom of temporary marriages, which would be annulled if the “husband” were gone for more than 30 days. Cio-Cio-San married Lt. Pinkerton, but she had fallen in love with him, renounced her religion and country; he, on the other hand, just wanted a “convenient” lover, and was callous and thoughtless to her. Her family, finding out she’s abandoned her religion, denounced her. After a while,Pinkerton left her, but she refused to give up hoping for his return. When he did, nearly three years later, a tragedy ended her love and life.
Melina Pineda, as Cio-Cio-San’s loyal servant, Suzuki, is a soothing presence with a lovely voice. Baritone Carlos Archuleta makes his BLO mainstage debut as Sharpless, the sympathetic American Consul. Goro, a marriage broker, performed by Matthew DiBattista, tenor, adds a human touch when he tries to arrange another marriage for the abandoned Butterfly.
Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s grandest operas, a heart wrenching love story of a naïve young Japanese girl who takes her own life rather than live without honor, and gives her child to her husband and his hapless wife, Kate. Librettists were Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica after David Belasco’s play Madama Butterly, which is based on John Luther Long’s short story. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Madama Butterfly has been enchanting audiences for over a century. This is the opera Miss Saigon is based on. I prefer Puccini’s, especially as performed by the exceptional cast here.
Archuleta, a graduate of New England Conservatory, makes his BLO mainstage debut as Sharpless, the sympathetic American Consul. He's wonderful.
Keith Lockhardt, the Boston Pops’ conductor, masterfully conducts Madama Butterfly following his debut in 2004 with Tosca. When he hopped on stage at the end of the opera, he received a rousing ovation, along with the entire cast. His musicianship flawlessly matched the soaring to somber tones of Puccini’s beloved opera. The artistic crew created a magnificent performance, another coup for this first-rate opera company. This stunning production is directed by BLO favorite, Colin Graham OBE. Mr. Graham’s previous productions with the Company include Flight, La rondine, The Postman Always Rings Twice and Beatrice and Benedict. Newcomer to BLO, Neil Patel, designs scenery. Costumes are by another newcomer, David C. Woolard. Lighting designer Mark McCullough returns to BLO after previously designing Flight, Tosca, Così fan tutte, Die Fledermaus, Don Pasquale and Le nozze di Figaro. . Performances are sung in Italian with projected English translations

The outstanding singers deserved the standing ovation and “bravos” received at the end of the performance I attended and are: Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly), Kelly Kaduce, soprano. B. F. Pinkerton, Gerard Powers, tenor, Suzuki Melina Pineda, mezzo-soprano; Sharpless Carlos Archuleta, baritone, Goro, a marriage broker; Matthew DiBattista, tenor. Prince Yamadori Joseph Valone, baritone, The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San’s disavowing uncle scared me! was Michael Callas, bass-baritone; The Imperial Commissioner, Paul Soper, baritone; The Official Registrar, John Whittlesey, baritone; Kate Pinkerton, the wife, had a small part but she played it well, .Paula Murrihy, mezzo-soprano
Madama Butterfly , at The Shubert Theatre, 265 Tremont Street, Boston. November 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 14, 2006. Sung in Italian with projected English translations in the front of the theater.
The opera will be performed on Friday, November 10, at 7:30 pm, Sunday, November 5, at 3 pm, and Sunday, November 12, at 3 pm., and Tuesday, November 14, at 7:30 pm. Tickets for this and future operas are on sale at telecharge.com or (800) 447-7400 or the Shubert box office.
For updated information about Boston Lyric Opera and the 2006-2007 30th Anniversary Season which features Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly November 3-14, 2006, Giuseppe Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera (A Masked Ball) March 30-April 10, 2007, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro) April 27-May 8, 2007, go to www.blo.org. *Jeffrey Dunn, photos, Madama Butterfly
Opera Buffs Can Enjoy Divas in the Dark: Magic Flute Sunday, November 19, 11 am , at Coolidge Corner Theatre, Brookline, in case they miss Madama.. For more information, go to www.coolidge.org