Dates:
May 13, 16, and 18, 2023, 7:30 p.m.
May 20, 2023, 2 p.m.
Location: Grand Théâtre de Québec
An Opéra de Québec production
Who would have thought, given the hostile reception meted out to Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at its Milan premiere in 1904, that it would become one of the world’s most beloved operas? The tragic tale of Cio-Cio-San (Madame Butterfly) is well known—the innocent young geisha who naïvely falls for and marries Pinkerton, a young officer in the US navy who wants nothing more than a fling and quickly abandons her. Three years later, she continues to await her love’s return and has rejected other marriage proposals. Pinkerton, who unknowingly left her pregnant, is returning with his “real American bride.” The penny finally drops for Cio-Cio-San when the two of them appear to take her child away, and she chooses to die “with honour” rather than live on in shame. The opera’s magnificent arias and depiction of traditional Japanese customs and values have made it a favourite with audiences across the ages, while Pinkerton’s moral vacuity remains as shocking as ever.
For this production of Madama Butterfly, the company has brought in director François Racine, a long-time Opéra de Québec collaborator. He’s a leading figure of the lyric stage, so expect a production that measures up to the brilliance of Puccini’s score. And music director Clelia Cafiero certainly knows her way around that score. Opéra de Québec is thrilled to welcome this rising star, who is also the first woman to direct one of the company’s regular-season productions.
Original Italian version with French surtitles.
With the Orchestre symphonique de Québec and the Opéra de Québec chorus.
Michel Desbiens
Commissioner
Agathe Herrmann
Cho-Cho-San’s mother
Andréanne Laprise
The aunt
Émilie Baillargeon
The cousin
TICKETS
Billetterie du Grand Théâtre de Québec
Phone: 418 643-8131
Tuesday and Wednesday,10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
In person: 269 boulevard René-Lévesque Est, Québec City, Québec
Tuesday to Saturday, noon to 5 p.m.
PRICES
| Sections | Single tickets 1 performance |
Subscription 2 performances |
|---|---|---|
| Parterre A-B-C-D | $75 | $120 |
| Parterre E-F-G and R-S-T-U | $120 | $192 |
| Parterre H to Q, seats 27 to 1 and 2 to 26 | $140 | $224 |
| Parterre H to Q, seats 51 to 29 and 28 to 52 | $120 | $192 |
| Parterre V-W-X | $75 | $120 |
| Circle F-G | $140 | $224 |
| Circle H | $130 | $208 |
| Mezzanine F | $110 | $176 |
| Mezzanine G-H | $75 | $120 |
| Balcony F | $75 | $120 |
| Balcony G-H-J-K | $55 | $88 |
| Circle box | $160 | $256 |
| Mezzanine box | $120 | $192 |
| Balcony box | $95 | $152 |
Youth and children
| Age 30 and under, except $140 and $160 sections | $45 |
| Age 6 to 12 accompanied by an adult, all seats | $30 |
| Wheelchair | $70 |
Group rate
Savings start at 10% Discount based on size of group (10 people or more)
Prices include tax and service charges.
Subscription period ends when performances begin in October.
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