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Burnaby Lyric Opera sparkles with Madama Butterfly

You can still catch the excellent production of the opera Madama Butterfly , in the intimate setting of the Shadbolt Centre’s James Cowan Theatre, with easy to read subtitles, talented acting and first-class voices.
Chloe Hurst
Soprano Chloe Hurst stars in Burnaby Lyric Opera's Madama Butterfly, onstage at the Shadbolt Centre until Feb. 29.

You can still catch the excellent production of the opera Madama Butterfly, in the intimate setting of the Shadbolt Centre’s James Cowan Theatre, with easy to read subtitles, talented acting and first-class voices.

Burnaby Lyric Opera is bringing Puccini's classic opera to the stage until Feb. 29.

Burnaby’s Chloe Hurst is heartbreakingly happy and trusting, beautifully singing the title role, and powerful tenor Martin Renner Wallace loses his initial arrogance as he falls in love with her. 

New Westminster tenor Thomas Lamont’s Goro, as the managing marriage broker, moves the action along, with his excellent singing and acting.  Baritone Scott Brooks is good as the American consul who can foresee the disaster and feels for the unhappy heroine. Emma Parkinson, mezzo-soprano, last seen on the Shadbolt stage as Carmen for the Burnby Lyric Opera, is the kind and supportive maid, Suzuki. 

A large chorus of Japanese relatives, including Frank Lei, as Butterfly’s little boy, round out the story of the opera.

As usual, music director Angus Kellett’s accompaniment is so good, you soon forget it’s not an orchestra.  Colourfully and accurately costumed, with appropriately spare and beautiful Japanese sets, by Gina Morel and Joseph Spitale, this is a production well worth seeing and hearing.  

It’s on Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 2 p.m.; Thursday, Feb. 27 at 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 29 at 8 p.m. Buy tickets through tickets.shadboltcentre.com or call 604-205-3000.