A fresh UAE-production of Puccini's classic opera Madama Butterfly will play in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
Among the Italian composer's most popular works, Madama Butterfly is ranked by Operabase as the sixth most-performed opera of the past two decades (Puccini also takes third and fourth with La Bohème and Tosca, mind).
Set in Nagasaki, Japan, in the early 1900s, this production promises to recreate an Oriental ambience with staging by Italian scenographer Massima Barone, and direction from Alex Broun.
The story of a young geisha who takes her life for love, Dubai-based Italian soprano Monica De Rosa McKay takes the title role of Cio-Cio San.
Tenor Gian Luca Pasolini plays BF Pinkerton, baritone Gianfranco Montresor is Sharpless and the mezzo-soprano Agata Bienkowska takes the role of Suzuki. The leads will be accompanied by pianist-conductor Piero Corradino Giovannini.
Throughout, an English-speaking actress will narrate her interpretation of the action, opening the door to an audience unfamiliar with the work.
The concerts are part of the five-week Italian Festival, the annual cultural, social and economic forum organised by the Italian Industry & Commerce Office in the UAE.
• Madama Butterfly is at Dubai's Centrepoint Theatre, Ductac on November 12, and Abu Dhabi's Emirates Palace Auditorium on November 14, both 8pm. Tickets are available from Ductac Box Office 043414777 or online at www.ductac.org and www.platinumlist.net. For the Emirates Palace's performance, tickets are available from www.timeouttickets.com.
