It takes a singer with stamina and excellent musical and technical chops to tackle Cio-Cio San, the title role in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Oftentimes it’s beyond the capabilities of college aged singers, but Karen Bruestle is lucky. She has the singers to fill the role. And that’s why Weber State University will be staging Puccini’s ever popular opera this week.
“We have a really wonderful voice with Sarah Singer, as well as a wonderful understudy [Shannon Jones],” Bruestle said in an interview with Reichel Recommends. “They’ve both grown into the role.”
From left: Sarah Singer as Cio-Cio San; Alexander Day as Doloré; and Derek Myler as Sharpless. (Photo from a recent rehearsal.)
But it’s not only Singer and Jones who have impressed Bruestle. “I’m proud of them, but I’m so proud of all of the students. They’ve put their heart and soul into this.”
Bruestle directs the opera program at WSU, and she is looking forward to this production. “I love the music. It’s so beautiful,” she said. And she also appreciates the drama. “It’s so tragic. You get caught up with it.” For Bruestle, however, it’s more than just a tearjerker; it’s about real feelings and real emotions. “It’s the tragedy of human passion that resonates with me. We’ve all been through disappointments, that’s why we can relate to Butterfly. It’s a timeless story in much the same way as Tosca and Traviata are.”
A lot of attention to detail has been paid to costume design and make up, Bruestle said. “There are a lot of Japanese details in make up, costumes and props.” And there are a few little twists, as well. “Butterfly goes through three different stages. To show that, we do different things with her make up.”
Geisha Chorus (Photo from a recent rehearsal.)
The WSU Chamber Orchestra, under its new director Francisco de Galvez, has also been doing a fabulous job, Bruestle said. “They’re doing wonderful work. And we’re fortunate to have Francisco because Puccini is his specialty.”
In addition to Singer and Jones, the other leads are Caleb Jardine (Pinkerton); Heidi Robinson (Suzuki); and Derek Myler (Sharpless). Others in the cast are Dugan Brunker; Christine Warren; Austin Toney; Gary Sorenson; Abigail Payne; Cheryl Flowers; Kirsten Stenquist; Timothy Coral Mair; Ben Saunders; and Alexander Day as Doloré.
The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles. “The woman who did the supertitles also did them for The Magic Flute,” Bruestle said. “She does a fantastic job and goes right to the heart of the translations.”
Getting Madama Butterfly ready to be staged has been a long process for Bruestle, but she’s happy with the results. “This is by far the biggest project we’ve done here up to now. I’m excited and I think it’s going to be wonderful.”
- PERFORMANCE DETAILS
- What: Puccini’s Madama Butterfly
- Venue: Austad Auditorium, Val A. Browning Center, Weber State University
- Time and Date: 7:30 p.m. March 5-7
- Tickets: $10-$12
- Phone: 801-626-8500
- Web: www.weberstatetickets.com
- ALSO: Special matinee performance with Shannon Jones as Cio-Cio San, 2 p.m. March 7.