A new production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will be staged at the Cadogan Hall on Friday 22nd July, starring acclaimed Chinese soprano Beibei Wang. Directed by Harry Burton and conducted by Peter Knapp, with the London International Sinfonia,the production
promises to bring a fresh intimacy to the timeless story of the geisha girl bought and then abandoned by an American naval officer. In the luminous acoustic of the Cadogan Hall and with the accompaniment specially re-scored for a chamber orchestra, clarity of text and musical detail will contribute much to a story clearly told.

Beibei Wang, who came from China to study in Italy and then in Manchester and London, is joined by Portugese tenor Alberto Sousa as Pinkerton, Simon Thorpe as Sharpless, the American consul, and Stephanie Lewis, as Suzuki, a role she has recently sung in the English National Opera’s production at the London Coliseum. Peter Knapp, having sung most of the major baritone roles in the mainstream opera repertoire, now brings that experience and support to the conducting podium, along with his practical knowledge of presenting opera on the stages of London’s concert halls. Actor-Director Harry Burton has appeared in a number of celebrated productions on the West End stage where he has also directed. With emerging young designers Isabella van Braekel and Denisa Dumitrescu creating set and costumes, and with the orchestra and chorus made up of musicians from the countries of Europe and the Far East, as well as from the UK, this is a truly east-west collaboration,
celebrating the cultural diversity and high quality of production and performance which draws outstanding talent to the vibrant artistic hub of London.