A little help for the lady

No one has ever seen a version of “Madame Butterfly” like the one coming to Bangkok on September 29. Puccini’s much-loved opera has a dazzling new difference.
The incisive Ms Butterfly now has a guardian angel to voice her innermost feelings and desires as she contends with her fiance, the American Casanova Pinkerton.
The lavish production, staged by the 150-member Chelyabinsk State Opera Theatre of Russia, will light up the stage at the Thailand Cultural Centre during Bangkok’s 14th International Festival of Dance and Music.
As a guarantee of excellence, the male and female leads in this three-act opera took home the big prizes at the Russian arts festival known as the Stage.
Playing the part of Cio-Cio-San – nicknamed “Butterfly” – is Christina Sushkova, a superlative young singer. Her love interest, Pinkerton, is enacted by the tenor Dimitry Polkopin, who is a multiple award-winner in Russia and now making his mark on the international stage.
Cast as the angel, and the voice of Butterfly’s soul, is Yelena Rotkina. A graduate of the Chelyabinsk State Art Academy, Rotkina has been a laureate in many overseas contests. Her expertise in chamber vocal music has added more layers of emotion to her vast repertoire.
Sung in the original Italian, the opera features surtitles projected on a screen in both Thai and English, so patrons can follow the story – and what a story it is!
Act I begins with Pinkerton, an American navy lieutenant, falling for a young Japanese woman. He wants to marry her, but Sharpless, the consul, tries to warn his friend about making such a rash decision.
His advice is offered in vain, and the lovers marry, but Pinkerton still wishes “to pick flowers everywhere” and continue sowing his untamed oats. Butterfly, desperately in love with her husband, is ready to covert to Christianity, even abandon her family.
Act II is set three years after the wedding, Pinkerton having left town shortly after the event and yet still ardently awaited by his wife. Alone without husband or relatives, she lives with a servant named Suzuki and a son whose existence is a mystery to her husband.
Sharpless has heard that Pinkerton is about to return – with an American wife – and tries to prepare Butterfly for the shock. But she is so excited by the first part of the news that he cannot bring himself to tell her the rest. As the harbour cannon announces the arrival of Pinkertons’ ship, Butterly and Suzuki decorate the house with flowers, and the stage is set for the final tragedy of romantic betrayal.
Rarely has a sad saga been so beautiful and mesmerising to behold. With more than 20 performers boasting illustrious titles like People’s Artist and Honoured Artist of Russia, the Chelyabinsk State Opera Theatre is one of the greatest theatres in the motherland.
Bangkok’s 14th International Festival of Dance and Music is sponsored by Bangkok Bank, B Grimm, the Dusit Thani Bangkok, Nation Multimedia Group, Nivea, SCG, Singha, Thai Airways International, the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Toyota Motor Thailand.

Bring a hanky
- The Chelyabinsk State Opera Theatre of Russia presents “Madame Butterfly” at the Thailand Cultural Centre on September 29 at 7.30pm.
- Book your seats now at ThaiTicketMajor.
- Call (02) 262 3191 or see www.BangkokFestivals.com.