Ellen Kent’s take on Puccini’s Madama Butterfly to grace stage at New Theatre Oxford
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The award-winning producer Ellen Kent returns to New Theatre Oxford with Madama Butterfly in Spring 2023, performed by the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, on Friday, 03 March.
Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s popular tale on which the hit West End musical Miss Saigon is based. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of a beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.
Back by overwhelming public demand, this award-winning opera returns in a new production with exquisite sets, including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes, including antique wedding kimonos from Japan.
Artistic Director and Producer Ellen Kent is one of the top opera producers in the UK and has been the biggest supplier of opera and ballet in the UK and Ireland for twenty-nine years.
Since 1992, Ellen has created a niche market for the best of traditional opera and ballet from Eastern Europe. She was the first producer to put out a major tour of foreign opera on the British theatre circuit, and she dominated the ballet market in the UK for many years.
To celebrate her long love affair with the many operas she now personally directs, Ellen is delighted to bring her audiences three brand new productions of Madama Butterfly, La Boheme and Aida, performed by the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv in Spring 2023.
Ellen first worked with the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv on her opera tours in 2002, when Ellen Kent and Opera and Ballet International launched the Ukrainian National Opera Odessa with a summer tour of the UK with La Traviata and The Barber of Seville.
In 2005, as a ‘thank you’ for introducing the Ukrainian Opera to the UK, Ellen Kent was awarded The Golden Fortune Honorary Medal by Ukrainian president Vladimir Yushchenko.
As with all of Ellen Kent’s shows, Ellen has hand-picked all of the soloists and is directing Madama Butterfly to create a visually beautiful and moving production. Ellen Said: “My operas have to be emotional and beautiful.”
The fabulous international Korean Soprano Elena Dee returns to sing her critically-acclaimed role as Cio Cio San together with Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova. Joining them are Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Natalia Matveeva, Ukrainian tenor Vitalii Liskovetskyi, Romanian tenor Sorin Lupu and celebrated Ukrainian bariton Olexandr Forkushak.*
Vasyl Vasylenko, artistic director and conductor for the National Municipal Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kyiv, returns along with guest conductor and artistic director of the National Opera of Moldova, Nicolae Dohotaru, plus members of the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv.
Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.
This Ellen Kent Production is presented by Senbla by arrangement with Opera International.
Madama Butterfly will be performed at New Theatre Oxford on Friday, 03 March and tickets are available from atgtickets.com
Please note that certain seats may have restricted views of the surtitles. Please check when booking tickets. All information is correct at the time of release.
*Cast is subject to change.
