This is due to the opera's enduring popularity, the timeless charm of the production, and the constantly renewed cast, which promises the dazzling debut of Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian in the lead role this time around, alongside Jonathan Tetelman's Pinkerton, who has also conquered New York this season.
The director (and screenwriter) of The English Patient and The Talented Mr. Ripley staged Madama Butterfly three times in the early 2000s: first in London, then in Vilnius, and finally in New York. Minghella's love of this opera proved to be truly fruitful, as his direction, in which the character of Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton's son is represented by a bunraku puppet manipulated before our eyes, is still considered a pinnacle of operatic performance. Partly because the director did not want to draw attention away from the opera's characters, especially its titular heroine, with any of his ideas. This iconic female lead of the opera canon is now portrayed by one of its worthy modern interpreters, Asmik Grigorian, making her debut before the audiences of New York and the Met HD Live broadcasts. Jonathan Tetelman, who will debut as a tenor in another Puccini opera just a few weeks earlier in New York, promises to be an immediately captivating Pinkerton, and fortunately, his splendid voice can confirm this impression. The performance is conducted by Xian Zhang, a Chinese-American conductor who is also making her debut at the Met and was once discovered by Lorin Maazel.
The 'Metropolitan Opera Live in HD' transmissions have been made possible through the cooperation of our partner, liveincinema.eu s.r.o.
Presented by: Müpa Budapest
Conductor: Xian Zhang
Performers:
Cio-cio-san .............................................................Asmik Grigorian
Suzuki.....................................................................Elizabeth DeShong
Pinkerton................................................................Jonathan Tetelman
Sharpless............................................................... Lucas Meachem
Featuring:
The Metropolitan Opera Chorus and Orchestra
Creators:
Revival director and choreographer: Carolyn Choa
Set design: Michael Levine
Costumes: Han Feng
Lighting: Peter Mumford
Puppetry: Blind Summit Theatre
Director: Anthony Minghella
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