Puccini’s MADAME BUTTERFLY The Helena Symphony presents America’s Favorite Opera
April 7, 2011
The Helena Symphony presents a fully-staged production of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly for two performances on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m., both in Helena’s Civic Center. Still ranked as the most favorite opera for American audiences, Puccini’s Madame Butterfly is one of the operatic masterpieces of all time and has captured the hearts of audiences for over a century.
The cast was carefully chosen by Helena Symphony’s Maestro Allan R. Scott, who began his career conducting opera. “Maestro Scott carefully chose voices from throughout the country to ensure that a world-class production would be brought to Helena,” explains Director of Artistic Planning Leatrice Lily. “From Helena’s own baritone Kevin Mathews to artists from Chicago, Seattle, and New York, we have cast some of today’s finest performing artists.”
Set at the turn of 20th century, Madame Butterfly captures the romance and pathos of the heart-wrenching tale of a radiant, innocent, and trusting geisha girl (Cio-Cio San, aka Madame Butterfly) who catches the eye of a caddish, young American Naval officer (Lt. Pinkerton), who makes her his temporary “wife.” When his time in Japan is over, he abandons her. Dishonored, Butterfly is bereft and the opera ends with Shakespearian tragedy.
“For more than a century, audiences have been thrilled by Puccini’s haunting, poignant music and touched by the lovely Butterfly, who gives up everything for love,” comments Maestro Scott. “This opera brings to life an incredibly moving love story in one of the most picturesque settings.” The Helena Symphony secured the set of Madame Butterfly designed by the Tacoma Opera Company which has been used throughout the country.
“The costumes and set are perhaps as important as the Puccini’s music for this opera,” explains Stage Director Alex Gelman. The costumes were designed for Utah Opera’s production of Madame Butterfly and the design department at Utah Opera has been making complete alterations for the Helena Symphony’s production. Likewise, wigs are also critical to the production. “With the exception of three characters, everyone on stage needs to be Japanese,” says Mr. Gelman. “From the intricate wigs and costumes for the geisha girls, to Butterfly’s breath-taking aura, to the entire cast, everyone must be locals from Japan.”
“Of all the roles for soprano, there is maybe one other that can compare to the vocal demands of the title role in Madame Butterfly,” says Maestro Scott. “The reason there is a day off between the two performances is so the soprano soloist performing the role of Butterfly can recover and rest for the second performance. While the rest of the cast could probably perform the opera twice in 24 hours, there is no soprano performing Butterfly that would dare to do it. It is simply a big sing. Once Butterfly appears on stage, she rarely leaves.”
Nationally-noted Soprano Saundra DeAthos will be making her debut performance in the title role of Butterfly. From the Chicago area, Ms. DeAthos has appeared with the Helena Symphony in a performance of Handel’s Messiah and most recently in the 2009 production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. Ms. DeAthos has been heralded for the remarkable quality of both her vocal and dramatic presentations. Excelling in a varied and broad repertoire, she has appeared with San Francisco Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Boston Lyric Opera, Virginia Opera, Eugene Opera, and Sacramento Opera. OPERA Magazine admired that Ms. DeAthos “imparts vulnerability and is an elegant soprano,” and the San Francisco Chronicle noted that she is “a real charmer of a soprano and makes one love the character.”
The role of Lt. Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton will be performed by Tenor Harold Meers. Ironically, Mr. Meers is married to Ms. DeAthos. “I wish I could say this was planned,” explained Maestro Scott. “We cast Mr. Meers as Pinkerton last spring. We then went to New York to audition about a dozen finalists for the role of Butterfly. Saundra DeAthos was a finalist for the role, but admittedly, I knew her as a soprano more fit for Mozart and Handel. Ms. DeAthos left no doubt that she was the one to play Butterfly.”
Members of the rest of the cast have performed in productions of Madame Butterfly hundreds of times combined, including Baritone Charles Robert Stephens. Mr. Stephens has appeared with the Helena Symphony several times and has become a real favorite for Helena audiences. Currently residing near Seattle, Mr. Stephens has performed the role of Sharpless and the American Counsel many times including performances at New York City Opera. Mezzo Soprano Sarah Mattox makes her Helena Symphony debut and has become known for her role of Suzuki, Butterfly’s housemaid. Ms. Mattox has appeared in major roles, including the title role of Carmen,with Seattle Opera, Cincinnati Opera, Palm Beach Opera, Chicago Opera Theater, Lyric Opera Cleveland, and Eugene Opera.
Born and raised in Russia, stage director Alex Gelman grew up in the Russian theatres where his mother served as chorus director. Mr. Gelman has stage directed several operas throughout the United States including recent productions at Utah Opera in Salt Lake City. In addition to serving as artistic director of the Organic Theatre Company of Chicago, he also is the Director of the School of Theatre and Dance at Northern Illinois University. He has worked at such theatres as American Repertory Theatre, Canterbury Opera (Christchurch, New Zealand), Chicago Lyric Opera, Utah Opera, Chattanooga Opera, Hartford Stage Company, New York Shakespeare Festival, Minneapolis Children's Theatre Company, and The Juilliard School of Drama.
Montana’s favorite baritone, Helena Symphony regular, and Helena’s own Kevin Mathews takes on two the supporting roles of the Imperial Commissioner and Prince Yamadori, who attempts to capture the heart of Butterfly. Making his performance debut, 6 year old and kindergarten student at Jefferson Elementary School Taylor Parisot takes on the non-singing role of Trouble, who Butterfly says she will change his name to Joy once Pinkerton returns. “If there is a casualty of the romance it is their son Trouble,” explains Mr. Gelman. “Trouble never knows his father, Pinkerton, and witnesses the ultimate demise of his mother, Butterfly.”
“We are thrilled that Exergy Development Group, the Residence Inn by Marriott, and US Bank are helping the Helena Symphony bring this production of Madame Butterfly to Helena,” explains Executive Director Russ Martin. “A ticket to Butterfly is the perfect gift for Mother’s Day and will be a production to remember. What an incredible opportunity to experience world class artists, award winning sets and costumes, and the most popular opera of all time.”
Subscribers attend the exclusive Pre-Concert Crash Course with Maestro Scott and Mr. Gelman 45 minutes prior to the performance. Tickets to the Helena Symphony’s performance of Puccini’s Madame Butterfly on Friday, May 6 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. in the Helena Civic Center are available for $50, $35, $30, $20 and students receive a 30% discount. Tickets are available on line at www.helenasymphony.org (with the Symphony’s new on line, live ticketing system), by contacting the Helena Symphony office at 406/442-1860, or by visiting the Symphony office at 48 Hibbard Way, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
