The Office of the Prime Minister, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra Foundation under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, is set to present the opera “Madama Butterfly” on July 23 and 24 at the Thailand Cultural Center. The presentation adds to the ongoing festivities celebrating His Majesty the King’s 72nd birthday on July 28.
The opera “Madama Butterfly,” featuring music by Giacomo Puccini and a libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, narrates the poignant story of a Japanese geisha’s doomed love affair with an American naval officer. Since its first performance in Milan in 1904, it has become one of the world’s most frequently staged operas.
Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya is the executive producer of this production. She has managed the selection of the main cast from the Opera Production in Vienna and held auditions for Thai actors for supporting roles and in the choir. Additionally, all costumes have been exclusively designed by Her Royal Highness under the SIRIVANNAVARI brand, which includes 14 outfits for the lead characters and another 40 for the ensemble created by her design team.
The opera will feature distinguished European opera talents such as Viktorija Miškūnaitė and Laura del Río alternating in the role of Madama Butterfly, with Gianluca Terranova as B.F. Pinkerton and Massimo Cavalletti as Sharpless. They will be joined by three esteemed Thai opera singers. The Royal Bangkok Symphony Orchestra, under the baton of German conductor Valentin Egel, will provide the musical accompaniment. Her Royal Highness has also collaborated with the Vienna team on the staging, ensuring a visually and musically rich performance. (NNT)
