Madison Opera’s production of Madama Butterfly is featured in today’s 77 Square, the arts weekly in the Wisconsin State Journal: click to read! The article includes an extensive interview with our stage and costume designer Jun Kaneko.

Our 3-week rehearsal period for Madama Butterfly is fairly short, though by industry standards it’s about normal. So what exactly is happening at this point, half-way through those precious 3 weeks? Well, in a nutshell, the singers, dancers, and chorus members are finishing up their staging rehearsals with director Leslie Swackhamer, and starting tomorrow they’ll be running different sections. Tonight is also the first time the orchestra meets with Maestro Vordoni for a reading. This Saturday is the sitzprobe, which is a fancy German way of saying “let’s all sit down and sing with the orchestra.” It’s the first rehearsal where the singers and orchestra get to work together, and it’s a crucial period for pinpointing timing issues and making interpretive decisions.

That’s the rehearsal report for now, but on another note, don’t forget that this Sunday is OPERA UP CLOSE: The Madama Butterfly Preview, 4-6 p.m. in the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art. Don’t miss Allan Naplan’s engaging, multimdeia presentation on the opera with special guests Leslie Swackhamer and Leonardo Vordoni. Tickets are $20; call the office at 238-8085 for reservations.

With weightier endorsements behind her, Oprah has now voiced her support for Puccini. In the December 2008 issue of O: The Oprah Magazine, the “The O List” of must-haves includes a new release of Puccini’s Complete Operas, a 20 disc set that’s going for just $79 on Amazon.com. The magazine says, “Puccini’s music can break hearts and stun with its sheer drama. Mark the composer’s 150th birthday with a gift of the complete operas…”. Oprah also endorses polka-dot piggy banks, pomegranate vinegar, and monorgrammed soap this month.

Last night was the first meeting of the Madison Opera High School Apprenticeship Program. The apprentices were treated to a rehearsal of the opening section of Madama Butterfly:

Three of Madison Opera’s High School Apprentices at rehearsal

Goro (Jason Ferrante) presents the maid Suzuki (Heather Johnson), a cook, and a servant to Lt. Pinkerton to go along with the house he will rent in Nagasaki

These dancer/actors practice the Suzuki method in preparation for their job as “kurogo” in Madama Butterfly. In traditional Japaense Kabuki theater, “kurogo” means “onstage assistant.” Click here for a more detailed explanation.

Listen to Outside the Box with Mitch Henck this morning at 10 a.m. on WIBA-AM 1310 News/Talk radio for a discussion of our upcoming production with General Director Allan Naplan and Maestro Leonardo Vordoni!