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Royal Albert Hall return for lavish production of Madam Butterfly, February to March 2011

Posted: 13 years ago

Puccini's legendary East-meets-West tragic love story returns to the Royal Albert Hall next year for what promises to be another spectacular run of performances. Using the Hall's dimensions to maximum effect, the opera is not only staged 'in the round' but the floor will be flooded to create what promises to be an enchanting Japanese water garden.

Aficionados believe Madam Butterfly to be amongst Puccini's finest works and it includes some of the opera world's most recognisable and haunting compositions. There's the love duet that closes the first scene and also Butterfly's celebrated solo 'One Fine Day' in which she shows her unshakeable conviction that her love - American naval lieutenant, Pinkerton - will return to her.

If you know the story, you'll know that he does but not in the way Butterfly hopes. Audiences around the world have found this breathtaking production as beguiling as any naval lieutenant and the Royal Albert Hall run promises to bring warmth, colour and unrivalled drama to an inevitably cold and frosty London when the curtain goes up on 24th February next year.

Madam Butterfly is sung in English using Amanda Holden's acclaimed translation (not THAT Amanda Holden), produced by Raymond Gubbay and is directed by renowned opera and theatre director David Freeman. Oliver Gooch conducts the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and a distinguished cast with the title role being shared by Mihoko Kinoshita, Jee Hyun Lim, and Hye-Youn Lee.

Tickets are on sale now, starting at £21.50, rising to £65 + booking fee.

Stewart Darkin