Nashville Opera presents its first production of the 2012-13 season, Giacomo Puccini’s "Madame Butterfly." Directed by John Hoomes, Nashville Opera’s General and Artistic Director, the two performances will include the Nashville Symphony conducted by Maestro William Boggs. The cast of renowned principal opera singers include soprano Jee Hyun Lim as Cio-Cio San, tenor Cody Austin as Lieutenant Pinkerton; and baritone Levi Hernandez as Sharpless.
Amy Tate Williams, Chorusmaster/Accompanist, leads the 38-person Nashville Opera Ensemble. Performances of Giacomo Puccini’s "Madame Butterfly" will be Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. and Saturday, Oct. 13, at 8 p.m. in the Tennessee Performing Arts Center’s Andrew Jackson Hall which is located at 505 Deaderick Street in Downtown Nashville. Tickets are available by calling Nashville Opera at (615) 832-5242, the TPAC Box Office at (615) 782-4040, or online at www.nashvilleopera.org.
The opera is sung in Italian with projected English translations. Patrons are invited to attend the free "Opera Insights" discussion led by Hoomes one hour prior to curtain in the theatre. Story outlines, behind-the-scenes videos, and a detailed study guide are available at www.nashvilleopera.org. Tickets range in price from $26 to $102.50, and Nashville Opera continues to offer its unique Pay-What-You-Can option. The Nashville Opera Guild will host a Madame Butterfly-themed dinner at the Sheraton Downtown Nashville Hotel starting at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 13. The fundraising event is priced at $100 per person and reservations are available by calling Nashville Opera.
Japanese geisha Cio-Cio San, “Butterfly,” abandons her faith and family for the dashing American sailor, Lieutenant Pinkerton. His love is only temporary and Cio-Cio San pays the ultimate price for her selfless devotion.
“'Madame Butterfly' continues to be one of the most popular works in the canon of opera because the drama and music are still relevant today,” said John Hoomes, Nashville Opera’s General and Artistic Director. “The themes, score, and the raw emotions presented in this masterpiece still create a visceral experience for audiences nearly a hundred years after its premiere.”
Lim opened the New York City Opera season in 2005 as the title role in "Madame Butterfly," and has performed the role in David Freeman’s award winning production at Royal Albert Hall, Teatro Municipal de Santiago in Santiago, Chile; and most recently in a ground breaking new production with San Antonio Opera. Other recent performances of Madame Butterfly include productions with the Austin Lyric Opera, Syracuse Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Chautauqua Opera, the New York City Opera tour in Tokyo and Nagoya, Japan and in Dublin with Lyric Opera Productions.
About Nashville Opera
Nashville Opera, Tennessee’s largest professional opera company, is dedicated to creating legendary productions and programs. Among the most successful regional companies in the United States of America, Nashville Opera has presented three different world premiere operas since its inception in 1981. Main stage performances are presented at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center and play to more than 17,000 people annually. Nashville Opera’s extensive education and outreach touring program reaches more than 30,000 students throughout Middle Tennessee. These projects are supported by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Tennessee Arts Commission, and the Metro Nashville Arts Commission.