HOUSTON (KIAH) — This week, Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opened Puccini’s Madame Butterfly. In a revival of Tony Award-winning director Michael Grandage’s acclaimed production, internationally sought-after soprano Ailyn Pérez, who recently made her role debut as Cio-Cio-San at Teatro di San Carlo in Naples, returns to Houston to perform the role, with Maestro Patrick Summers at the podium.
The opera at the Wortham Theater located at Wortham Theater Center, 501 Texas Ave., shares the tale of a young Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San who marries an American naval lieutenant, Pinkerton. As events unfold, Cio-Cio-San, abandoned by her husband, raises their son while faithfully waiting for him to return to Japan. When Pinkerton finally reappears, bringing with him a new wife and seeking to take the child back to America, heartbreaking tragedy ensues.
Run time
The opera runs two hours and 43 minutes, including one intermission. It is sung in Italian with projected English translation.
This fall, HGO added a seventh mainstage performance of Madame Butterfly, to take place on February 10, in response to strong sales. The company also will present two showings of the opera as part of its Student Performance Series: a shorter-length Student Matinee for grades 4-8 and a full-length High School Night for grades 9-12.
Jordan Braun directs the revival of Michael Grandage’s production. The cast will be led by Ailyn Pérez as Cio-Cio-San opposite tenor Yongzhao Yu as Pinkerton in his role debut, with mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce as Suzuki, bass-baritone Michael Sumuel as Sharpless, bass William Guanbo Su as the Bonze, and tenor Rodell Rosel as Goro. Maestro Patrick Summers conducts. The opera’s extra mainstage showing and student performances will feature some alternate cast members, including soprano Raquel González as Cio-Cio-San and tenor Eric Taylor as Pinkerton, with Teddy Poll conducting.
Dates
Mainstage performances:
Friday, January 26, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 28, 2024, at 2 p.m.
Saturday, February 3, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 7, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Friday, February 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, February 10, 2024 at 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, February 11, 2024 at 2 p.m.
Student Matinee
Tuesday, January 30, 2024 at 10 a.m. ($10; $5 for Title I; currently sold to capacity but waitlist available)
High School Night
Tuesday, February 6, 2024 at 7 p.m. ($15; $7.50 for Title 1)
Tickets
Tickets range from $25 to $210. For more information and to buy tickets, visit HGO.org or call the Box Office at 713-228-6737. To reserve tickets for student performances, visit HGO.org/students.
