Madama Butterfly comes to Bristol (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Madama Butterfly comes to Bristol

ELLEN Kent and Opera International's lavish, traditionally-staged production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly comes to the Bristol Hippodrome from March 15-19. It is performed by the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa which won praise from both critics and audiences during its 2003 tour.

This year's tour almost didn't happen because of the political instability in the Ukraine over Christmas. But the indefatigable Ellen Kent made two visits there in spite of being warned not to go. She staged her own demonstration in order to get the opera set to Britain and was held up at gunpoint by Ukrainian customs officials. But she managed to escape with set and self intact!

Highlights from the production include the Humming Chorus, the poignant aria One Fine Day and the Love Duet. The set includes a Japanese water garden with a large weeping willow water feature and a fountain with a golden fish effect.

The cast includes Ruslan Zinevych, the international Ukrainian tenor who sang with Pavarotti last summer and soprano Rosa Lee Thomas who earned a standing ovation for her rendering of Butterfly at the Albert Hall in 2000.

Tickets from the box office on 0870 607 7500.