Puccini: Madama Butterfly
Fearless for Love
Classic but modern style
Following the Magic Flute in 2015, La Dame aux Camelias in 2016, Carmen in 2017 and La Boheme in 2018, the Kaohsiung Spring Arts Festival is producing a full-length version of the classic opera Madama Butterfly this year. This performance breaks away from tradition and sets the background of the story as contemporary in a modern way. Different elements are interlaced so that the combination of tradition and modernity produces more tension and conflict. Director Matthew Barclay's unique and subtle approach to character, stage, costume and lighting design catalyzes a seamless integration, creating a modern version of an opera.
One of the top ten operas in the world & the playwright who understands women's hearts best
The butterfly symbolizes beauty, but it is also fragile, just like the gorgeous and tragic short life of Madama Butterfly. Madama Butterfly is regarded as one of Giacomo Puccini's most beautiful opera works due to its perfect combination of oriental culture and traditional western opera characteristics. Giacomo Puccini is known as the Italian composer who understands the hearts of women best. In his opera works, female roles always have unique and distinct personalities and painful experiences. Heroines in his plays always sacrifice for love without hesitation, which seems to be his yearning for pure love.
The shining cast gets together for a modern version of the opera
In 2022, Cio Cio, the leading actress of Madama Butterfly, will be played by Lin Ling-Hui, a soprano who is known for her various styles. Pinkerton will be played by Richard Troxell, the tenor who played the leading role in the 1995 film version of Madama Butterfly. Elite domestic vocals Wu Bai-Yu-Hsi, Weng Jo-Pei, Julian Lo, Chang Yin-Chi, Wang Yu-Hsin, Li Zeng-Ming and Hsieh Ming-Mou will also perform together. Conductor Yang Chih-Chin leads the Kaohsiung Symphony Orchestra to perform all music. In addition, Matthew Barclay, the former director in residence of the Sydney Opera House, is invited to direct again. He will present the classic opera Madama Butterfly with modern style and simple stage production, showing KSAF’s famous opera production strength once again. We would like to pay tribute to the master composer and to every modern man and woman who are fearless for love with this performance.
