Featuring an experienced, veteran cast, led by Yunah Lee as Butterfly, this production established a new standard for artistic quality in the Twin Ports. Led by conductor Markand Thakar, the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra did an outstanding job with Puccini’s timeless score and stage director Craig Fields told the story with realistic touches, a muted, believable approach to the acting and sensitivity to the Japanese aesthetic.
The local press summed it up in the following excerpts from the Duluth News Tribune review: “No patron hesitated to stand in ovation … an extraordinary production… a cast that was an embarrassment of riches … this production allures even the opera-averse … opera devotees should rush to purchase tickets!” (DNT -Madama Butterfly).
The outstanding cast of internationally acclaimed singers includes Korean soprano Yunah Lee, in the role of the sweet, young Geisha, Cio Cio San. She has recently sung leading roles with the Sao Paula Opera, Cleveland Opera, Minnesota Opera, Forth Worth Opera, Taiwan Opera, Bern State Opera of Switzerland, Tokyo and New York City Opera. She brings an incredible combination of vocal beauty and dramatic understanding to this most demanding role.
Minnesota tenor sensation, Marcus McConico, will join her as the handsome, yet unfaithful, American naval officer, Lt. Pinkerton. His career has sky-rocketed with debuts at Baltimore Opera, Virginia Opera, Opera Roanoke and Tel Aviv Opera last year alone.
Dramatic baritone, Frank Hernandez, will appear as the sympathetic American diplomat, Sharpless. Mr. Hernandez recently debuted at New York City Opera as Marcello in La Boheme and he has already performed the role of Sharpless to critical acclaim with Opera Pacific and Nashville Opera.
In the role of Suzuki, sympathetic maid servant to Cio Cio San, is outstanding Korean mezzo-soprano, Eunjoo Lee, a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and Korean National Opera artist. Goro, the obsequious marriage broker, will be sung by award-winning New York City tenor, Dean Anthony.
