Madama Butterfly: week 4 - week 3 - week 2 - week 1

Madama Butterfly - Week Four

A view from the wings before the singers take the stage for the final dress rehearsal of Madama Butterfly.

The props table is carefully set backstage so that singers can quickly grab each object at the correct time.

Maestro Corrado Rovaris leads the Opera Company of Philadelphia orchestra during the final dress rehearsal.

From left to right, tenor Roger Honeywell is Lieutenant Pinkerton, who gives money to the marriage broker Goro, tenor David Portillo, to secure his new Japanese bride.

From left to right, Goro, tenor David Portillo, introduces the American counsel Sharpless, baritone Troy Cook, to Butterfly, soprano Ermonela Jaho. Butterfly tells Sharpless that she is fifteen years old, that her once prominent family has lost its position and that she now must earn her living as a Geisha.

Lieutenant Pinkerton, tenor Roger Honeywell, is infatuated with the young Butterfly, soprano Ermonela Jaho.

The Imperial Commissioner and Butterfly’s family have arrived the for wedding.  From left to right, baritone Jeffrey Chapman  makes his Opera Company debut as the Imperial Commissioner, soprano Veronica Chapman-Smith is Butterfly’s cousin, and tenor Paul Vetrano is Yakuside.

Butterfly, soprano Ermonela Jaho, waits with her child Sorrow, supernumerary Gabriela Ava Patrone, for Pinkerton’s return.

Butterfly, soprano Ermonela Jaho, learns that Pinkerton has a new American wife.  Kate Pinkerton, mezzo-soprano Maren Montalbano, seeks help from Sharpless, baritone Troy Cook, to convince Butterfly to let them take her son back to America with them.

Mezzo-soprano Maria Zifchak is Sukuki, who comforts the heartbroken Butterfly, soprano Ermonela Jaho, when they learn that Pinkerton has betrayed her.