Washington National Opera Tickets

Let’s see what the Washington National Opera has in store for the audience this summer.

Washington National Opera – Madame Butterfly

Madame Butterfly will be performed at the Washington National Opera, all through 6^th to 12^th May, 2017. The ticket prices would be between $25 and $300 and the show is expected to run for 2 hours and 40 minutes, at the Opera House.

Madame Butterfly is an opera divided into three acts and based on the short story under the same name by John Luther Long. The opera is by Giacomo Puccini with Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Glacosa as the librettists. The story of Madame Butterfly follows the tragic tale that starts on the wedding day of Benjamin Franklin. As he awaits the arrival of his bride, a 15-year old geisha, Cio-Cio-San, shows up and starts chatting with him. The public gets the impression that Franklin does not care much for this marriage or his lovely wife. Therefore it comes as no surprise when the marriage does not last long and the Butterfly is left abandoned in Acts II and III.

Themes of Madame Butterfly

The opera relates to a lot of present-day themes, making it a worthwhile entertainment option for all age groups. It explores themes such as cultural insensitivity, the objectification of women and the exploitation of marginalized people in the society. B.F. Pinkerton is portrayed as the typical ugly guy who still manages to get his hands on a beautiful girl as a wife. His “fixer” friend, Goro is also pretty much a pimp.

The theme of East meets West is also explored with the perfect amount of wit as the etiquettes of Japan and the US collide, creating a hilarious confusion and embarrassment. The themes of time, death, life and love are constants throughout the production and their underlying presence gives the entire production a more emotional and realistic feel.

The Stage is Set!

The production designer, Jun Kaneko, from Japan, helps make the stage set for Madame Butterfly an absolute delight to watch. His designs resemble a colorful puzzle and are, without doubt, one of the major highlights of Madame Butterfly. The various blocks of bright colors, patterns and the optimal use of negative space in keeping with the traditional Japanese aesthetics makes the entire set a true sight to behold. The overall effect generated by his tasteful use of colors is elegant and gracefully cartoonish at the same time.

The stage is designed as a Butterfly’s cage, as intended by Pinkerton in the storyline. Using large projection screens, Kaneko has created the impression of a typical Japanese household. The effective usage of screens has made Kaneko’s stage for Madame Butterfly a sight not to be missed.

Another stroke of pure genius by Kaneko in his set designs is the use of black masked figures all over the stage. These figures present the perfect opposition to the bright colors and create an ideal balance. The various stylistic touches by Kaneko, throughout the production make Madame Butterfly an even more fascinating story than it is. Don’t miss out on it and grab these Washington National Opera tickets at the earliest.

Combining a wonderful score of music with a wonderful cast, Madame Butterfly is not going to disappoint. The lush and evocative music of Puccini conveys the perfect elements of passion and richness in composition. His mesmerizing power completely overtakes the listener while the dramatic musical peaks and downfalls depict the amazingly executed emotional trajectory in the production. Add to all of that, the ravishing voice of Soprano Ermonela Jaho, the Butterfly, and you get a kind of musical beauty that is hard to define in words. You truly need to experience Madame Butterfly yourself to understand what makes it so special. Get your Washington National Opera tickets and get ready for a wonderful entertainment night.