Governors State University fOR PERfOfiMIHO flftTS

The Pasquinelli Family Foundation & Teatro Lirico D'Europa Present Madama Butterfly

Sunday, March 9 , 2003

2002/2003 Season sponsored in part by a grant from the'.

SOUTi-iLAlS•-•aft**!^ f O roSvISfiosiVisiT Madama Butterfly - Synopsis MADAMA BUTTERFLY Place and Time: Nagasaki, Japan of the 1940s

by GIACOMO PUCCINI Act I Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Lieutenant Pinkerton of the U.S. Navy, has fallen in love with the Based on John Luther Long's story and David Belasco's play 15-year old Butterfly, a geisha and plans to go through a ceremony of mar- Orchestra and Chorus of riage with her - but it will be a marriage he can end at any time. Consul TEATRO LIRICO D'EUROPA Sharpless warns him against this plan, pointing out that the girl genuinely loves him. Butterfly's family agrees to the wedding, and the ceremony is per- formed. When the guests and officials have left, Butterfly's uncle the Bonze, a Artistic Director/Stage Director. GIORGIO LALOV priest, arrives, and curses the bride for betraying the religion of her ancestors Conductor KRASSIMIRTOPOLOV by converting to Christianity out of love for a foreigner. Pinkerton comforts Sets GIANNI COPPOLA & PHILLIP POUGNET his little wife who now sees him as her only hope in life. Costumes YUKIOHOSOE Light designer. GUEORGUIBOYUKLIEV INTERMISSION - 20 Minutes DISTRIBUTION Act II Cio-cio-san SU-JIN LEE Pinkerton has gone to the . Butterfly has heard nothing from him Soprano for three years, but she is still waiting patiently and confidently for his return. Sharpless visits her; he has received a letter from Pinkerton saying that he has B. F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant, U.S. Navy ROUMEN DO YKO V married an American wife and is to visit Japan with his bride. Sharpless can Tenor not read the letter to Butterfly right away, for she has a visit from Prince Yamadori, who is courting her. Butterfly rejects Prince Yamadori as she still Sharpless, American Consul at Nagasaki NICOLAIDOBREV feels bound to Pinkerton. When the Prince has left, Sharpless is at last able to Baritone impart the contents of the letter. Butterfly is shattered. In despair, she shows Sharpless her son by Pinkerton; the consul had not been aware of the child's Suzuki, maid to Cio-cio-san ELENA MARINOVA existence. Cannon fire from the harbor announces the arrival of Pinkerton's Mezzo Soprano ship. Despite everything, Butterfly hopes he will return to her. She hastily adorns her house with flowers, prepares to receive her lover, and sits up all Goro, a marriage broker. MILKO MIHAYLOV night waiting for him. Tenor Act III The Bonze, Buddhist priest ALEXIIVANOV The next morning Butterfly is still waiting for her beloved husband, but in and uncle of Cio-cio-san vain. Hesitantly, Pinkerton approaches Butterfly's house with the consul. Basso The maid Suzuki sees him first, and is about to tell Butterfly the joyful news Prince Yamadori, suitor or Cio-cio-san HRISTO SARAFOV when she sees a foreign woman in the background, and learns that this is Baritone Pinkerton's wife, who wants to adopt Butterfly's child. Pinkerton cannot find the courage to tell Butterfly the truth, and leaves again. When Butterfly sees Kate Pinkerton, wife of Pinkerton REBECCA O'SHEA the strange woman she understands at last. She is prepared to give the child to Soprano his father. She takes a dagger inherited from her father, who used it to commit hara-kiri on the emperor's orders. Butterfly reminds herself of the words en- Sorrow, child of Cio-cio-san CHRISTIAN LALOV graved on it: "Let those who can no longer live with honor die with honor." Actor She says goodbye to her son, and commits suicide in the traditional Japanese manner. ABOUT THE ARTISTS, at Arena di Verona and the 1995. Since 1998 shehas been a fixed mem- CONDUCTOR - KRASSIMIR in order of appearance Associazione Filharmonica di Brescia, ber of the National perform- TOPOLOV Maestro Topolov fin- as well as appearances with the Lon- ing leading Mezzo Soprano roles along- ished the Academy of Music in B. F. PINKERTON - Tenor, ROUMEN don Symphony Orchestra and the side such artists as Ghena Dimitrova, Sofia, in 1979 with a gold DO YKOV The Bulgarian tenor is a per- Manchester Halle Orchestra, United Nicolai Giuselev and others.She made her Medal in the class of Prof.Vladi Kingdom, manent member of the Sofia National US debut with Teatro Lirico D'Europa in Simeonov. He then completed a one Opera and has been a guest artist for Winter 2002 to outstanding critical acclaim year specialization in Amsterdam opera productions in almost every CIO-CIO-SAN - Soprano, SU-JIN LEE and continues to tour with the company with Prof. Fandalen in conducting country in Central Europe as well as The young soprano from Seoul, Korea in Europe and the USA. and piano. Two more years of study Japan. Mr. Doykov has performed with who recently became and American citi- followed in Weimar, Germany under such celebrated artists as Firenze zen holds a Master's degree from Man- THE BONZE - Basso, ALEXIIVANOV Kurt Mazur and Otmar Zuitner. Mae- Cossato, Raina Kabaivanska, Nicolai hattan School of Music where she was The young Russian basso made his de- stro Topolov has been the principal Giuselev, Anna Tomova-Sintova, and the winner of the distinguished but with Teatro Lirico D'Europa on the conductor of Teatro Lirico D'Europa Ghena Dimitrova. The robust tenor is President's award from 1994-1997. She Winter 2002 USA tour performing the roles since 1995 and has since that time known internationally for his great suc- recently completed her four year resi- of Ferrando in Verdi's IL TROVATORE, conducted hundreds of perfor- cess with the difficult roles of Manrico dency at the Academy of Vocal Arts, The Bonze in Puccini's MADAMA BUT- mances of different opera for the in Verdi's II TROVATORE, Calaf in Philadelphia where she was the recipi- TERFLY and Sparafucile in Verdi's company all over Europe and the Puccini's , and Radames in ent of the Ruth Ann Swenson Fellow- RIGOLETTO to outstanding acclaim. He USA to outstanding critical acclaim. . He received outstanding acclaim ship Award. Ms. Lee has performed as has performed numerous basso roles with from critics in Sienna, where he a concert soloist in Salzburg, Austria the company since that time and returns ARTISTIC DIRECTOR and STAGE performed these roles at the Festival and Chianti Italy and has performed the for the Winter 2003 USA tour. DIRECTOR - GIORGIO LALOV The San Giovanni Valdarno in Summer 1998 role of Cio-cio san in Puccini's Bulgarian Opera singer turned Ar- and 1999. Mr. Doykov has also received MADAMA BUTTERFLY with Opera YAMADORI - Baritone, HRISTO tistic Director and Stage Director outstanding critical acclaim from impor- Delaware and the Academy of Vocal SARAFOV Mr. Sarafov has been active made his stage debut a , tant American critics for his perfor- Arts Opera to outstanding critical ac- on the stage for most of his entire life as a at the age of 26! Giorgio Lalov mances with Teatro Lirico D'Europa in claim. Ms. Lee was the winner in the major soloist in operetta, opera and as an has been the Artistic Director and the USA since their debut tour in Win- 1999 James Parkinson Italian Opera actor.The multi talented Baritone gradu- principal stage director for Teatro ter 2000. Competition, a winner in the 1998 Met- ated from the National Academy for Mu- Lirico D'Europa since the company ropolitan Opera National Council Au- sic in Sofia in 1982 and was immediately was created in 1986 and has staged SHARPLESS - Baritone, NICOLAI ditions, and the winner of the 1996 engaged by the Sofia National Opera as over 13 different presented DOB REV The young baritone from Dicapo Opera Theatre Vocal Competi- Bartolo in Rossini's 'Barber of Seville.'He in over 2,500 performances all over Varna was born in 1969. He graduated tion. She made her debut with Teatro has performed roles too numerous to men- Europe, Japan and the USA. The from the National Academy of Music Lirico D'Europa on their Winter 2002 tion with Teatro Lirico D'Europa world multi-lingual Mr. Lalov is able to di- in Sofia in 1996. Since then he has per- USA tour performing Cio-cio-san in wide since 1989, and is a very valuable rect casts of international soloists for formed as a principal soloist with the MADAMA BUTTERFLY and Liu in member of the company. his productions addressing each Sofia National Opera and as a guest TURANDOT. In Fall 2003 she performed different artist in their native lan- artist with opera companies through- with the company on tour in France and GORO - Tenor, MILKO MfflAYLOV The guage. Since 1986, Mr. Lalov has out Europe.Mr. Dobrev received out- Denmark as Leonora in Verdi's IL Bulgarian tenor graduated from the Na- awarded over 250 contracts to standing critical acclaim for the roles of TROVATORE to outstanding critical tional Academy of Music in 1983 and is a American Operatic Artists and Con- Rigoletto in Verdi's RIGOLETTO, Count acclaim. fixed member of the Opera of Stara Zagora. ductors for performances on tour in diLunain Verdi's IL TROVATORE and Mr. Mihaylov has performed as guest art- Europe, the USA and at major inter- Sharpless in Puccini's MADAMA SUZUKI - Mezzo Soprano, ELENA ist in opera productions in Greece, Rus- national festivals. BUTTERFLY during his US debut with MARINOVA The young Bulgarian sia, France and Switzerland. He has per- Teatro Lirico in Winter 2001. Future en- Mezzo Soprano graduated from the Na- formed with Teatro Lirico D'Europa on tour gagements include guest appearances tional Academy of Music in Sofia in world-wide since 1991. TEATRO LIRICO D'EUROPA MADAMA BUTTERFLY Program Notes Giorgio Lalov, Artistic Director by Mary Jane Phillips -Matz for Teatro Lirico D'Europa Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY Giacomo Puccini's popular opera MADAMA BUTTERFLY is based on an Created in Paris in 1986, Tcatro Lirico D'Europa has now completed over American play that had its premier in New York City in 1900, with the famous 3,000 performances world wide and has participated by invitation at some of actress Blanche Bates in the title role. The playwright was David Belasco, a the most important summer opera festivals in Europe. The larger than usual famous producer-impresario who was called "The Bishop of Broadway." touring company is currently the only company undertaking extensive Ameri- Puccini saw the play in London in the summer of 1900 with Bates as Butter- can tours with full scale opera productions accompanied by a professional fly; and although he didn't understand English, he certainly saw how powerful orchestra of 50 musicians. Teatro Lirico also tours with a full, professional it was. Soon he began his opera. opera chorus, and engages only mature, experienced international soloists, many of whom have performed major roles with leading opera houses around 'Madama Butterfly,' set in Nagasaki, Japan in the 1940's, opens when Lieuten- the world. The company's many productions of traditional, Italian design have ant Pinkerton, an American naval officer, marries a fifteen-year-old Japanese won critical acclaim from both American and European critics. geisha. She believes she has truly become "Mrs. Pinkerton," but he intends to marry a "real American woman" as soon as he returns to the States. Pinkerton Teatro Lirico D'Europa's list of presenters outside of the USA includes over abandons Cio-cio-san and returns three years later with his American wife 200 outstanding theaters in France, Belgium, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, who wishes to adopt the child that Cio-cio-san has born him. Confronted with Italy, Germany, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, Denmark, Japan and the Island of this tragic reality, Cio-cio-san takes her own life. Martinique. The company's live CD recordings are sold throughout Europe by Harmony Music of Florence. Teatro Lirico D'Europa has completed several Even before he began composing, Puccini researched all kinds of original highly successful tours of 'Madama Butterfly' throughout Western Europe, Japanese music, and turned to Japanese people in Italy to get the authentic well documented in hundreds of outstanding reviews from performances in tone for the opera. Things did not go smoothly, however, for he had many France, Spain, Portugal and Germany. battles with his librettists, Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. Then his work was brutally interrupted in February 1903, when he was almost killed in an The company's brand NEW production of BUTTERFLY made its US debut in automobile accident. Recovery was slow, and he found that he had diabetes. California on the Winter 2002 USA tour to outstanding critical acclaim. The 2 Nevertheless, he finished the opera, against all odds; and everyone had high month, Winter 2003 USA tour is the 4th major American tour for Teatro Lirico hopes for it. The world premier of 'Madama Butterfly' was given at the Tcatro D'Europa, who was featured in a four page article in the February 2002 issue alia Scala in Milan on February 17, 1904. Contrary to all expectations, it turned of OPERA NEWS entitled ROAD WARRIORS. Performances on the Winter out to be a howling fiasco. The audience mounted such a noisy anti-Puccini 2003 USA tour are scheduled at outstanding theaters all over the country as demonstration that they almost forced the impresario to bring the curtain down. well as on the 2002-2003 opera seasons of several regional opera companies. They hated the story, and made fun of Puccini's depiction of the exotic setting Teatro Lirico D'Europa will tour the USA in Fall 2003 with Mozart's DON and his Oriental-sounding music. They laughed, whistled, hooted, shouted, GIOVANNI featuring a mostly American cast. groaned and made animal noises, mooing, barking and imitation bird songs. People even shouted personal insults about the prima donna's private life; and Since 1988 Teatro Lirico D'Europa has awarded over 300 different contacts she began crying onstage, because there was so much uproar that she could to American singers and conductors to perform with the company on tour in not hear the orchestra. Europe and the USA. Teatro Lirico D'Europa returns to the USA in Winter 2004 for 10 weeks with Verdi's IL TROVATORE, RIGOLETTO, TRAVIATA On the morning after the ill-fated premier, Puccini, his librettists, and his pub- and Puccini's TOSCA. For more information about Teatro Lirico D'Europa or lisher took 'Madama Butterfly' off the stage at La Scala, and set about saving a complete schedule of the Winter 2003 USA tour contact Jenny Kelly, the it. Puccini revised the score, and oversaw all the rehearsals for this opera's USA booking agent for the company at International Classic Artists Mgmt. first successful performance which took place in Brescia on May 24, 1904. Inc. at 410-527-3508. From that moment, it has remained popular.