Review - Madama Butterfly at Milton Keynes Theatre

MADAMA BUTTERFLY by Puccini; Glyndebourne Touring Opera; Glyndebourne; East Sussex, UK; 12 October 2016; Lieutenant B F Pinkerton - Matteo Lippi; Cio-Cio-San - Karah Son; Conductor - John Wilson; Director - Annilese Miskimmon; Designer - Nicky Shaw; Lighting Designer - Mark Jonathan; Movement Director - Kally Lloyd Jones; Video Designer - Ian William Galloway; Photo credit: CLIVE BARDA; NNL-161011-163819001

Glyndebourne’s production of Madama Butterfly is one of the most famous tales,

Derived from a true story of a Japanese geisha married and abandoned by an American sailor, Puccini’s popular masterwork unfolds as a disastrous clash of East and West.

The first part of the show takes a little bit of time to get used to, but once you are into it, the pace of the show hurtles with a lot of thrills. Split into three parts, after the start of the second part, I was on the edge of my seat throughout the piece.

MADAMA BUTTERFLY by Puccini;
Glyndebourne Touring Opera;
Glyndebourne;
East Sussex, UK;
12 October 2016;

Lieutenant B F Pinkerton - Matteo Lippi;
Goro - Alun Rhys-Jenkins;
Suzuki - Claudia Huckle;
Sharpless - Francesco Verna;
Cio-Cio-San - Karah Son;
The Cousin - Irina Loskova;
Cio-Cio-SanÃ¢Â¬"s Mother - Thomasin Trezise;
YakusideÃŒÂ, Cio-Cio-SanÃ¢Â¬"s Uncle - Michael Wallace;
The Aunt - Pamela Wilcock;
Imperial Commissioner - John Mackenzie-Lavansch;
Official Registrar - Edmund Danon
Bonze - Michael Druiett;
Prince Yamadori - Adam Marsden;
Sorrow - Ethan Kerr, Rupert Wade;
Kate Pinkerton - Marta Fontanals-Simmons;

Conductor - John Wilson;
Director - Annilese Miskimmon;
Designer - Nicky Shaw;
Lighting Designer - Mark Jonathan;
Movement Director - Kally Lloyd Jones;
Video Designer - Ian William Galloway;

Photo credit: CLIVE BARDA; NNL-161011-163805001 — MADAMA BUTTERFLY by Puccini; Glyndebourne Touring Opera; Glyndebourne; East Sussex, UK; 12 October 2016; Lieutenant B F Pinkerton - Matteo Lippi; Goro - Alun Rhys-Jenkins; Suzuki - Claudia Huckle; Sharpless - Francesco Verna; Cio-Cio-San - Karah Son; The Cousin - Irina Loskova; Cio-Cio-SanÃ¢Â¬"s Mother - Thomasin Trezise; YakusideÃŒÂ, Cio-Cio-SanÃ¢Â¬"s Uncle - Michael Wallace; The Aunt - Pamela Wilcock; Imperial Commissioner - John Mackenzie-Lavansch; Official Registrar - Edmund Danon Bonze - Michael Druiett; Prince Yamadori - Adam Marsden; Sorrow - Ethan Kerr, Rupert Wade; Kate Pinkerton - Marta Fontanals-Simmons; Conductor - John Wilson; Director - Annilese Miskimmon; Designer - Nicky Shaw; Lighting Designer - Mark Jonathan; Movement Director - Kally Lloyd Jones; Video Designer - Ian William Galloway; Photo credit: CLIVE BARDA; NNL-161011-163805001

All of the performers are so precisely on point and really help to carry the action of the piece. It seems almost unfair to single out one performer but Karah Soh’s role as Cio-Cio San and her unrequited love is absolutely devestating to watch.

It is difficult to talk about the ending without spoiling it but there is one moment where everyone was so silent that you couldn’t even hear the audience breathing.

The piece is incredibly moving and is easily one of the best things I have ever seen. Even if you are not an opera fan, it’s a story that easy to follow and an emotional rollercoaster. Definitely worth checking out.

Glyndebourne’s production of Madama Butterfly can be seen at Milton Keynes Theatre on Saturday November 12. For more details visit www.atgtickets.co.uk/miltonkeynes.