Click here to watch General Director Allan Naplan’s Madama Butterfly preview, filmed at Opera Up Close on Nov. 16 in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. (Scroll down the linked page to find the video). This is a great way to enhance your operatic experience, with fascinating history on Puccini’s life and works, hints on what to listen for in the opera, a detailed exploration of designer Jun Kaneko’s aesthetic, and discussions with our conductor Leonardo Vordoni and director Leslie Swackhamer. You can also watch Opera Up Close on Madison City Channel 12 (analog basic channel 98 and digital channel 994) the following dates and times:

• Sunday, Nov. 23 at 10 pm
• Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 2 pm
• Friday, December 5 at 8 pm

Opera Up Close: The Cosi fan Tutte Preview will take place on Sunday, March 1, 2009 from 4-6 p.m. in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art.

Soprano Maria Kanyova is singing Cio-Cio-San in the Madison Opera production of Madama Butterfly this weekend. I caught up with her before last night’s rehearsal to hear what she thinks of the opera, the role, and what it means to her now that real-life daughter Elisabeth Kania is playing Cio-Cio-San’s son in Friday night’s performance.

A Conversation with Butterfly from Madison Opera on Vimeo.

Soprano Maria Kanyova, Madison Opera’s Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly next weekend, is featured in an article by Gayle Worland in today’s Wisconsin State Journal. Click to read!

A few of our guest artists sat down with me yesterday to discuss their roles in Madama Butterfly. Watch the video to hear them explain why this production is unique and what makes Butterfly a great first opera. Be warned: you may also have a few laughs along the way!

Madama Butterfly: Behind the Scenes from Madison Opera on Vimeo.