MADAMA BUTTERFLY Photo Shoot

One of my favorite things about this internship so far is that I get to watch the professional publicity photo shoots. This is a great opportunity for me because I'm a photographer myself, so I really enjoy watching professionals work. On Tuesday, photographer Kira Horvath came to Central City for the Madama Butterfly photo shoot. Yunah Lee (Butterfly) and Chad Shelton (Pinkerton) showed up in costume and brought their good looks and acting skills to the shoot. I just brought my camera.

Marc Shulgold’s Fun Facts on MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Marc Shulgold, former music critic of the Rocky Mountain News has put together some fun facts for us on Madama Butterfly. Marc has contirbuted to numerous national music publications and is a popular pre-concert speaker at programs by the Colorado Symphony and others.

• The opera is based on the play Madame Butterfly by David Belasco, an American who authored The Girl of the Golden West, later to become another Puccini opera. While in London in 1900, Puccini saw Belasco's Butterfly and was immediately inspired. The play had been adapted from a short novel by Philadelphia lawyer John Luther Long – though another possible source is Pierre Loti's popular novel, Madame Chrysanthème. In any case, the plot stems from a tale that seems to be based in fact. Long's sister, Jennie, was married to an Episcopal missionary who worked in Japan. Years after the opera's premiere, Jennie gave talks that recalled the sad tale of a young neighbor, a Japanese tea-house girl named Cho-San (Miss Butterfly) who was wooed by an American sailor, became “a temporary wife,” bore him a child, and was subsequently abandoned by him.

• In November, 1900, as Puccini awaited the arrival of Belasco's play, he shared with his publisher Giulio Ricordi his anticipation at composing the opera, revealing an interesting concept, later discarded: “I think instead of one act I could make two quite long ones: the first in North America and the second in Japan.”

• Puccini took great pains to bring authenticity to his score, researching traditional Japanese melodies and importing recordings of music from that country as he worked in Italy. He gained valuable information from a Mrs. Oyama, the wife of the Japanese ambassador to Rome, who often sang to the composer songs of her homeland . The score includes at least 10 traditional melodies, including the Japanese national anthem, Kimi ga yo, heard during the wedding of Cio-Cio San and Pinkerton.

• Besides the familiar aria, “Un bel di” (One Fine Day), the most recognizable tune in the opera is “The Star-Spangled Banner,” quoted in the opening act as Pinkerton and Sharpless drink a toast to America. Back then, the music was familiar as the U.S. Navy anthem – it did not become our National Anthem until 1931.

• In 1984, Malcom McLaren, an English rock impresario who founded the notorious band the Sex Pistols, released his techno record, Madame Butterfly. It boldly blended a driving disco beat, snippets of the Puccini aria, “Un bel di,” a narrative spoken by a Southern-accented Pinkerton and a vocal sung by Cio-Cio San. McLaren died earlier this year. This link includes the audio track and lyrics.

Above Right: Yunah Lee in Central City Opera's MADAMA BUTTERFLY (2010). Photo by Kira Horvath.

Lunchtime Concert at the Library

This afternoon, patrons at the Boulder Public Library were treated to a free concert previewing the summer festival as well as showcasing other opera favorites performed by members of the Central City Opera Ensemble. I usually think of libraries as quiet places, but the walls were reverberating with the sound of opera today!

Juliette Bratsch of the library introduced us as a "gem of an opera company" and remarked that our productions are the best she's seen anywhere. Deborah Morrow, Central City Opera's Director of Education and Community Programs, briefly set up each piece giving context for what was about to be heard. Starting off with a marital spat scena from Orpheus in the Underworld, Tenor Jason Baldwin (accompanied by Deborah Schmit-Lobis) attempted to "change the faithless heart" of Soprano Amanda Raddatz, by playing her his latest violin concerto....much to the chagrin of his wife.

Next was Lt. Pinkerton's beautiful aria "Addio fiorito" from Madama Butterfly, with audience members smiling along to the familiar tune. Patrons soon discovered a "new favorite" listening to the poignant shared memory between siblings in the Bridge Duet from Three Decembers.

The concert also included other opera favorites, and the audience was privy to a sneak-peek of the 2011 festival selections, before the official press release. If you weren't there, you'll have to wait to hear!

Save the date for our next Boulder Public Library concert on Sunday July 11th. We'll be performing our original bilingual one-act opera En Mis Palabras (In My Own Words).

Music & Martinis

It is raining cats and dogs in Central City this weekend, and I am thinking fondly back to last Thursday, when the fun of the Music & Martinis Event almost drove the rain away from Denver. It was a lovely evening full of fantastic entertainment and fancily dressed guests, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The night was lively even before the performances began. John Moriarty got the chance to chat with some newly costumed interns,

Pat Pearce danced with the Can-can girls,

and a delicious dinner was served.

It was fun to see so many people enjoying themselves!

The rest of the evening went off very well. John Moriarty, Pat Pearce, and principal artist Emily Pulley gave entertaining introductions and commentary throughout the evening.

The apprentice artists sang, treating us to such classics as "Warm as the Autumn Light" from The Ballad of Baby Doe (sung by Sammus Haddad) and "You'll Never Walk Alone" (sung by Monica Boldt). Other treats included an aria by the lovely Emily Pulley, a duet by Ms. Pulley and Pat Pearce, and a gorgeous piano number played by John Moriarty. There was also a lively auction and beautiful decorations including, of course, some yellow roses.

It did rain that evening, but guests were rewarded with an amazing double rainbow outside the Cable Center's window.

I'm not sure how Central City Opera's party planners pulled that one off, but they get major props from me, both for the rainbows and for a lovely evening!

Central City Happenings

It's a busy week here in Central City - Butterfly's rehearsals continue, Orpheus' rehearsals have just started, and Music and Martinis is on the horizon!

I had the pleasure of attending Orpheus' first rehearsal last night, and was delighted to be able to watch some choreography in progress. Director/Choreographer Marc Astafan* jumped right in to one of the dance numbers, and they start the Can-can tonight. So exciting! I can tell just by watching one rehearsal that this show is going to be hilarious, and I'm totally psyched.

Over the weekend, Central City was crowded with both Russian tourists (Who knew this town was an international destination? I didn't.) and visitors to the Gilpin County Arts Association 64th Annual Fine Art Exhibition opening. I stopped by and was semi-shocked to discover that despite the fact that the Gilpin County Arts Association Gallery is somewhat nondescript from the outside, it is gorgeous on the inside, and pretty big too. I know I'm going to be spending some of my lunch breaks enjoying both the space and the art work, and I suggest you visit if you get the chance.

Next up, Music & Martinis and percussion load in. I can't wait!

*View Marc Astafan's Director's Notes on Orpheus in the Underworld

MADAMA BUTTERFLY Begins Staging

It's official - rehearsals have started for Madama Butterfly! The crew was up at dawn on Wednesday morning to move the set from backstage to the Foundry rehearsal hall.

They seemed to be having a pretty good time.

I got the chance to sit in on the first staging rehearsal later that day, and that was a pretty good time as well. Director Catherine Malfitano* expressed her enthusiasm for the project to the cast, stressing the "joyous experience" of the 2005 production. She made sure to mention that this show wasn't just an opportunity to "replicate another Butterfly," but also a chance to make changes and "show [the audience] the complexity of these characters." It was super exciting to hear her speak and to watch the artists get up on their feet for the first time. I won't give any staging secrets away, but I will say that the two hours of rehearsal I got to watch psyched me up for the show. I'm getting excited for the festival! I hope you are, too.

*View Catherine Malfitano's Director's Notes for Madama Butterfly

Guild Planting Day

Today is Guild Planting Day here in Central City and the flowers are popping up everywhere. This morning, pots were set out and ready to be filled.

And the flowers were laid out and ready to be planted in them.

Guild members worked hard all day...

and by the afternoon, everything was looking gorgeous!

Way to go, Guild!

Learn more about the Central City Opera House Association Guild.