Madama Butterfly Returns to the Stage

Cuba’s National Opera Theater is bringing back Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini’s iconic opera, which premiered last year with the support of the Italian Embassy in Havana as part of the centennial tributes to the composer’s passing.

This new production will once again take the stage at the Avellaneda Hall of the National Theater of Cuba during the final weekend of March, with performances on Friday, March 28, and Saturday, March 29, at 7:00 p.m., and a matinee on Sunday, March 30, at 5:00 p.m.

The cast features sopranos Katia Selva, Milagros de los Ángeles, and Isabel Torres (from the Rodrigo Prats Opera Theater of Holguín) alternating in the role of the Japanese heroine Cio-Cio San. Tenors Irelio Pérez and Eugenio Hernández will share the role of U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, while baritone Abdel Roig will portray Consul Sharpless. The role of Suzuki, Cio-Cio San’s devoted maid, will be performed by mezzo-sopranos Pilar Pousada, Dayami Pérez, and Ariagna Reyes. They will be joined by other soloists, the choir of the National Opera Theater of Cuba, and the Havana Grand Theater’s Alicia Alonso Symphony Orchestra.

The production is under the musical direction of maestro Yhovani Duarte, with choral direction by Denisse Falcón Lay. Set and costume designs are by Massiel Borges, while stage direction is led by Maite Milian.

Translated by Luis E. Amador Dominguez