The award-winning producer Ellen Kent, and the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv, will be bringing the show to the New Theatre on Friday 3 March.
Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s popular tale, on which the hit West End musical Miss Saigon is based.
A spokesperson describes the plot: “One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant – with dramatic results. Highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria One Fine Day and the unforgettable Love Duet.
“Back by overwhelming public demand, this award-winning Opera returns in a new production with exquisite sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan.”
Artistic Director and Producer, Ellen Kent is one of the top opera producers in the UK and has been the biggest supplier of opera and ballet in the UK and Ireland for 29 years.
Since 1992, Ellen is said to have created a niche market for the best of traditional opera and ballet from Eastern Europe.
She was the first producer to put out a major tour of foreign opera on the British theatre circuit and she dominated the ballet market in the UK for many years. To celebrate her long love affair with the many operas which she now personally directs, in Spring 2023 Ellen will be bringing audiences three brand new productions of; Madama Butterfly, La Boheme and Aida, performed by the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv.
Ellen first worked with the Ukraine on her opera tours in 2002, when she, and Opera and Ballet International, launched the Ukrainian National Opera Odessa with a summer tour of the UK with La Traviata and The Barber of Seville.
In 2005, as a thank you for introducing the Ukrainian Opera to the UK, Ellen Kent was awarded The Golden Fortune Honorary Medal by the Ukrainian president Vladimir Yushchenko.
As with all of Ellen Kent’s shows, Ellen has hand-picked all of the soloists and is directing Madama Butterfly to create a visually beautiful and moving production.
Ellen said: “My operas have to be emotional and beautiful.”
The spokesperson for the show added: “The international Korean Soprano Elena Dee returns to sing her critically-acclaimed role as Cio Cio San, together with Ukrainian soprano Alyona Kistenyova. Joining them are Ukrainian mezzo-soprano Natalia Matveeva, Ukrainian tenor Vitalii Liskovetskyi, Romanian tenor Sorin Lupu and celebrated Ukrainian bariton Olexandr Forkushak.”
The staff at the New Theatre are reminding people that the cast for the performance can be subject to change.
Vasyl Vasylenko, artistic director and conductor for the National Municipal Opera and Ballet Theatre, Kiev, will also return along with guest conductor and artistic director of the National Opera of Moldova, Nicolae Dohotaru plus members of the Ukrainian Opera & Ballet Theatre Kyiv.
Madama Butterfly will be sung in Italian with English surtitles at the New Theatre.
This Ellen Kent Production is presented by Senbla by arrangement with Opera International.
Tickets are available from www.atgtickets.com/shows/ellen-kents-madama-butterfly/new-theatre-oxford.
Organisers are reminding audience members that certain seats may have restricted views of the surtitles.Members of the public are being reminded to check this when booking tickets. All information is correct at time of release.
