The three performances of this production of the Teatro Comunale di Modena will be staged next week.

 

Next week, the Auditorio de Tenerife presents Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, the second subscription title of the Ópera de Tenerife season. Tickets for all three performances, which will take place on November 19, 21, and 23 at 7:30 p.m. in the Symphonic Hall, have been sold out for a month. The staging is a production of the Teatro Comunale di Modena, brought directly from Italy and touring theatres worldwide for twenty years.

Madama Butterfly is one of the world's most frequently performed operas and has captivated audiences for 120 years. The opera tells the tragic story of Cio-Cio-San, a geisha dedicated to her marriage with Pinkerton, an American soldier. However, Pinkerton views her more as a curiosity during his time in Japan rather than a genuine partner. The three acts of this heart-wrenching tale intertwine themes of love, betrayal, and sacrifice.

The stage management and set design bear the signature of the renowned Italian master Stefano Monti. Monti is known for his cultural fusions on stage, adding techniques such as those of the Japanese noh theatre, which can be enjoyed in the Auditorio with the performer Monique Arnaud. Keiko Shiraishi's set design and Nevio Cavina's lighting complete Monti's team.

Ramón Tebar, the musical director of this production, will take the baton of the Sinfónica de Tenerife. At the same time, the Main Choir Ópera de Tenerife-Intermezzo will be conducted on this occasion by Miguel Ángel Arqued.

The Lithuanian soprano Kristine Opolais plays the starring role of Cio-Cio-San. The tenor Giorgi Sturua will be Pinkerton, while mezzo-soprano Alisa Kolosova will play the role of the faithful Suzuki and baritone Fernando Campero the role of Sharpless, the consul who warns of Butterfly's possible pain.

Tenor Alberto Ballesta will give voice to Goro, the matchmaker, and bass Matías Moncada will play the role of Cio-Cio-san's uncle, The Bonze, an imposing figure in the family tradition. The tenor David Barrera will play the role of Prince Yamadori, a symbol of hope and affection towards Cio-Cio-San, while the mezzo-soprano Christina Campsall is Kate Pinkerton, whose arrival will mark a turning point in the protagonist's destiny.

The Ópera de Tenerife is an initiative organised by the Island Council through the Auditorio de Tenerife with the collaboration of the ICDC (Regional Institute of Cultural Development) and the INAEM (National Institute of Performing Arts and Music).

For Saturday's performance (23 November), the Island Council has set up an Opera Shuttle to facilitate access with two TITSA buses. One will depart at 5:15 p.m. from the south (Adeje), the other from the north (Buenavista), with the Auditorio de Tenerife as their destination. Once the event is over, there will be a 15-minute gap until the buses drive the route in the opposite direction.

To access this service, you must collect a bus ticket purchased as a show, but instead of choosing a fare, select the name of the stop where you will join the journey. Places for the Opera Shuttle are limited and will be available until Friday, 22 November, at noon.