 | Since 1978, Utah Opera has cultivated and entertained a growing audience of over 150,000 annually around the intermountain area. Each year, the Opera performs for over 80,000 students in Salt Lake City's Capitol Theatre, and in schools throughout Utah. This amounts to approximately 10% of all school opera audiences nationwide, according to annual surveys by OPERA America. Not only are these young people developing a greater appreciation of opera, but they will also ensure Utah Opera's audience base in the years to come. In 2002, the fiscal success of Utah Opera prompted the merging of the company with Utah Symphony, creating a new paradigm in arts administration with Ms. Ewers as President & CEO. |
| Utah Opera will present Madame Butterfly from October 18 through 26, 2008. Madame Butterfly is an opera in three acts (originally two acts) by Giacomo Puccini (see photo), with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The opera was based in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Luther Long. Madame Butterfly is ranked number 1 on Opera America’s list of the top 20 most-performed works in North America. Some scholars suggest its tragic tale reflects actual events that occurred in Nagasaki, Japan during the early 1890s. Madame Butterfly passionately explores the consequences of obsessive devotion. Pinkerton, a U.S. Navy officer in Japan, contracts what he considers a temporary marriage to Cio-Cio-San, called Butterfly, who renounces religion and family in her adoration for him. When Pinkerton leaves for America, he promises to return “when the robins nest again.” Butterfly blissfully ignores warnings of his unfaithfulness and adamantly insists that her husband would never forget his son, “Sorrow.” Pinkerton does come back, but Butterfly’s devotion and heart are shattered when she realizes he has not returned for her. | |
Madame Butterfly | |
Event: Madame Butterfly Date: October 18 (Saturday) – 26 (Sunday), 2008 Location: Capitol Theatre Salt Lake City, Utah USA | |
| SOURCE: Utah Opera |
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