After 14 years Madama Butterfly returns to Costa Rica in a production of Compañía Lírica Nacional

Seven Costa Rican singers and two Mexicans in the main roles under the stage director of the artistic director of the Colombian Opera, Alejandro Chacon and under the baton of Ramiro A. Ramírez at the Melico Salazar Popular Theater. 

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Under the musical direction of the Costa Rican master Ramiro Ramírez and with the Argentine Alejandro Chacón, as scenic director, the Compañía Lírica Nacional (CLN) of Costa Rica adjusts the last details for the presentation of the opera Madama Butterfly, which opens this July 26 , on the stage of the Melico Salazar Popular Theater.

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This show corresponds to one of the most emblematic and successful operas of the Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, who returns with his passion, love, deception and betrayal, after 14 years since the last presentation produced by the CLN.

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This three-act opera was premiered at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, on February 17, 1904, and his libretto was written by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, based on the story Madama Chrysanthème by Pierre Loti and stories by John Luther Long. The play tells the story of a geisha who turns Christianity into a small American mission in Nagasaki, Japan. The Compañía Lírica Nacional of Costa Rica presented it in the country in 1998 and 2005.
“Puccini develops this story in Nagasaki, where a geisha falls in love with a sailor from the United States naval, something he sees as another adventure in his walk the world. The story basically develops between the love of this woman for a new life, her change of religion to adopt her husband’s, which means the rejection of her family and a fatal outcome, ”said musical director Ramiro A. Ramírez.

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The CLN selected nine lyric singers for the primary and co-primary roles of the production, which include the names of seven Costa Rican singers, such as: soprano Gloriela Villalobos, in the main role of Cio Cio San; the mezzo-soprano Marianela Mora as Suzuki, the tenor Miguel Mejía as Goro and the bassist Fulvio Villalobos as Bonzo. 

Madama Butterfly © Danny León, Centro Nacional de la Música

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“We are very pleased to announce the cast that will face the wonderful score of Madama Butterfly, which is one of the most beloved titles of the universal audience. We can say that we have managed to combine a cast of excellent voices, with seven national singers and two Mexican guests. The participation of soprano Gloriela Villalobos in the lead role and the voices of the mezzo-soprano Marianela Mora and the tenors Miguel Mejía and Yeancarlo Zamora stand out. It is important to note that this time they will be making their debut in operatic productions with the Compañía Lírica Nacional, six of the seven selected Costa Rican singers, which highlights the commitment and strategic objective of this institution in providing opportunities to national artists in Our productions Experienced Mexican tenor José Luis Ordoñez willplay “Pinkerton”, while Mexican baritone Tomás Castellanos will be “Sharpless.” Both artists will perform in Costa Rica thanks to the collaboration of the National Coordination of Music and Opera and the Opera Studio, both units of the National Institute of Fine Arts, Mexico, ”explained José Manuel Aguilar, Artistic Director of the Compañía Lírica Nacional.

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To this group of voices are added twenty-four singers of the National Symphonic Choir and musicians of the National Symphony Orchestra of Costa Rica, for a total of 100 artists on stage.

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The scenery, costumes and props are owned by the Ópera de Colombia, which through the rental figure. This is possible thanks to the participation of Costa Rica through the Compañía Lírica Nacional in the non-profit organization Ópera Latinoamérica OLA, Ibero-American network of theaters and opera companies that seeks cooperation between countries, to facilitate the production and co-production of shows operatic
Madama Butterfly will perform at the Melico Salazar Popular Theater on July 26, 28 and 30 and August 1 and 04.

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For more information on the subject, you can contact the Department of Communication and Development of the CNM at number 2240-0333, extensions: 160, 205 and 206.

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The complete cast is as follows: 

  • Cio Cio San: Gloriela Villalobos, Soprano (Costa Rica)
  • BF Pinkerton: José Luis Ordoñez, Tenor (Mexico)
  • Sharpless: Tomás Castellanos, Barítono (Mexico)
  • Suzuki: Marianela Mora, Mezzosoprano (Costa Rica)
  • Goro: Miguel Mejía, Tenor (Costa Rica)
  • Bonzo: Fulvio Villalobos, Bajo (Costa Rica)
  • Yamadori: Yeancarlo Zamora, Tenor (Costa Rica)
  • Kate Pinkerton: Yasira Guzmán, Soprano (Costa Rica)
  • Commissioned: Juan José Montero, Bajo (Costa Rica)