Opera Australia’s world first digital season opens with a bold new staging of Madama Butterfly

To open Opera Australia’s 2019 digital season, Puccini’s classic Madama Butterfly has been reimagined in an all new production that will see the opera presented like never before. 

The creative dream team of Director/Choreographers Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon, designer Michael Scott-Mitchell and costume designer Jennifer Irwin have reunited along with video designer Sean Nieuwenhuis to bring us the most innovative and visually stunning version of Madama Butterfly ever seen on the Australian stage. 

In Murphy’s arresting and contemporary production, fragments of film will flutter across the digital backdrop creating a dynamic backdrop for this captivating opera. 

The spectacular designs will be complemented by Murphy’s choreography, performed on a large scale revolve, to capture the grace and gravity of this heartbreaking tale. 

Two outstanding casts have been assembled; the star role of Cio-Cio-San will be shared by sopranos Karah Son and Mariana Hong. 

Lauded for her performances of Butterfly around the world, Son will make her Sydney Opera House debut this winter while Hong will return to the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage following her acclaimed performance as Liù in Turandot during OA’s Sydney summer season. 

Joining them on stage will be stunning mezzo-sopranos and OA principals Sian Sharp and Agnes Sarkis assuming the role of Suzuki and powerhouse tenors Andeka Gorrotxategi and Diego Torre taking to the stage as the much maligned Pinkerton. 

Puccini’s sublime music will be conducted by an ensemble of talents; Massimo Zanetti, making his Australian debut, Nicholas Milton, Brian Castles-Onion and Tahu Matheson. 

Murphy’s all new production is a contemporary look at Puccini’s alluring heroine and a captivating opening to OA’s fully digital repertory season.

Madama Butterfly

June 28 – August 10 2019 

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House 

Starring Karah Son, Mariana Hong, Sian Sharp, Agnes Sarkis, Andeka Gorrotxategi, Diego Torre

Bookings 

Adult tickets from $47 (fees may apply) Group and concession prices available for most performances. Student Rush available for most performances: $50 (fees may apply) 

Opera Australia Box Office (02) 9318 8200 

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House

www.opera.org.au