Madame Butterfly Composer Giacomo Puccini Librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa Based On the works of John Luther Long and David Belasco Company San Francisco Opera Association Location San Francisco, CA Venue War Memorial Opera House Season 1995-1996 Language Italian Creative/Crew Conductor Donald Runnicles Stage Director(s) Sandra Bernhard Designer Toni Businger Lighting Designer Thomas J. Munn Chorus Director Ian Robertson Musical Preparation Susanna Lemberskaya Joyce Fieldsend Kathleen Kelly Ernest Fredric Knell Philip Eisenberg Prompter Philip Eisenberg Assistant Stage Director(s) Yefim Maizel Stage Manager(s) Theresa Ganley Supertitles Jerry Sherk Francesca Zambello Cast Lt. B. F. Pinkerton Richard Leech Alfredo Portilla(10/20,22) Goro Dennis Petersen Suzuki Catherine Keen Sharpless Victor Ledbetter Cio-Cio-San, Madama Butterfly Catherine Malfitano Imperial Commissioner Jere Torkelsen Official Registrar William Pickersgill The Bonze Philip Skinner Prince Yamadori Thomas Barrett Cio-Cio-San's child Cecily Khuner Kate Pinkerton Nicolle Foland Show Dates Tue, Oct 3 1995, 7:30pm Fri, Oct 6 1995, 8pm Sun, Oct 8 1995, 2pm Wed, Oct 11 1995, 7:30pm Sat, Oct 14 1995, 8pm Tue, Oct 17 1995, 8pm Fri, Oct 20 1995, 8pm Sun, Oct 22 1995, 1pm Time and Place Early 20th century Nagasaki Scenes Act I -- A house and garden overlooking the Bay of Nagasaki Act II -- Butterfly's house, three years later Media Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Chorus, Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Cio-Cio-San's entrance: Catherine Malfitano and Women of the San Francisco Opera Chorus Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Image Richard Leech (Lt. Pinkerton), Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Richard Leech as Lt. Pinkerton, Catherine Malfitano as Cio-Cio-San Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Image Philip Skinner (The Bonze), Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Chorus, Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Philip Skinner as The Bonze; Catherine Malfitano as Madama Butterfly Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Image Catherine Keen (Suzuki), Victor Ledbetter (Sharpless), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Keen as Suzuki; Victor Ledbetter as Sharpless Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Victor Ledbetter (Sharpless), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Malfitano as Butterfly; Victor Ledbetter as the Consul Sharpless Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Malfitano as Cio-Cio-San Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera Sponsors The performance of October 11th is sponsored by American Airlines. The performance of October 14th is sponsored by Deloitte & Touche. The performance of October 17th is sponsored by Bain & Company. The performance of October 17th is designated in honor of Janet and Jeffery Meyer's membership in the Triple Gold Circle. The performance of October 22nd is sponsored by The Wilson. Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati Foundation. Acknowledgements This production is made possible, in part, by a generous gift from the Franklin/Templeton Group of Funds. Supertitles for "Madama Butterfly" provided by a generous gift from Pacific Gas & Electric Company. Notes Scenery constructed in San Francisco Opera Scenic Studios Costumes executed by Goldstein Costumes, San Francisco, and by Fred Mlejnek SUPERNUMERARIES Alex Boatwright Peter Cannon David Cipolla Diana Kissil Robert Lee Oliver Pollard Kimberly Thompson Carolyn Waugh
Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Chorus, Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Cio-Cio-San's entrance: Catherine Malfitano and Women of the San Francisco Opera Chorus Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera
Image Richard Leech (Lt. Pinkerton), Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Richard Leech as Lt. Pinkerton, Catherine Malfitano as Cio-Cio-San Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera
Image Philip Skinner (The Bonze), Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Chorus, Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Philip Skinner as The Bonze; Catherine Malfitano as Madama Butterfly Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera
Image Catherine Keen (Suzuki), Victor Ledbetter (Sharpless), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Keen as Suzuki; Victor Ledbetter as Sharpless Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera
Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Victor Ledbetter (Sharpless), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Malfitano as Butterfly; Victor Ledbetter as the Consul Sharpless Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera
Image Catherine Malfitano (Cio-Cio-San), Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini. San Francisco Opera, 1995-96. Photographer: Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera. Catherine Malfitano as Cio-Cio-San Credit Marty Sohl/San Francisco Opera