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Cast list:
Susan Jermy Cio Cio San
Alternates with
Marita Krywaniuk Cio Cio San
Pinkerton – Pietro Picone
Sharpless – Wyn Pencarreg
Suzuki – Alison Duguid
Goro – Stuart Haycock
Prince Yamadori – Stuart Boother [Understudy - Pinkerton]
The Bonze – tbc
The Imperial Commissioner – Gareth Davies
Kate Pinkerton – Adele Knox
Yakuside – Steve Brown
Cio Cio San’s Mother – Lindy Stephens
The Aunt – Jane Anderson-Brown
The Cousin – Denise Kehoe
Trouble – tbc
Official Registrar – Adam Temple-Smith
Stage Director – Martyn Harrison
Musical Director – Paul Foster
No opera can match the tragedy and sorrow of Puccini's Madam Butterfly . Set in Japan at the turn of the century, this tale of the doomed love of an American naval lieutenant and his young Japanese bride inspired Puccini to write some of his most sublime and beautiful music.
The differences in attitudes and styles of East and West are skillfully woven together in Puccini's ravishing score. The magnificent love duet which closes the first act and Butterfly's celebrated solo 'One Fine Day' , in which she shows her unwavering belief that Pinkerton will return to her, are just two of the greatest moments. And when, after several years, Pinkerton eventually returns with his American wife, Butterfly realises she has been betrayed and the opera moves to its powerful and tragic conclusion.
This production results for the fifth year running from the cooperation between the festival and the much acclaimed New Devon Opera company. In each of these years a full production of one of the world's best-known romantic operas has been produced in Budleigh.
However, in this year, for reasons beyond our control, we are taking Madam Butterfly to the excellent Pavilion Theatre in Exmouth. All seats will be reservable and the staging will be excellent with good views from all seats.
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Budleigh Festival Chorus with Roger Fordham
From Bruckner to Gershwin
A programme of sacred and secular music by the Budleigh Festival Chorus, interspersed with piano solos played by Roger Fordham. The programme includes sacred motets, spirituals and Gershwin songs - which have been have been specially arranged by Nicholas Marshall for this concert.