The Great Entertainment Company is proud to present the first fully fledged opera to come to the United Arab Emirates. Puccini’s Madame Butterfly will be performed by The Rostov State Opera with more than 75 artists and complete scenery sets on stage, starting in Dubai on 17 and 18 September and in Abu Dhabi on 20 and 21 September 2006
The Dubai venue will be the Arena at Madinat Jumeirah where tiered individual seating will be in place to ensure comfort, leg room and a good view throughout the venue.
In Abu Dhabi, the opera will be performed at the Emirates Palace Auditorium.
The three hour performance will start at 20.00 and will include two intervals.
Commenting on the production, Cathryn Gaspar, CEO of The Great Entertainment Company, said, “For the first time in the UAE, audiences will be able to enjoy a complete opera production of the highest international standards, a true night at the opera”.
The Rostov State Opera and Ballet
The Rostov State Opera and Ballet is celebrating its 75th anniversary this year and, with the exception of their visit to the UAE, is celebrating its Jubilee touring Russia. The company’s repertoire extends to over 30 works, including Tchaikovsky, Rossini, Verdi and Strauss. In 2003 soprano Irina Krikanova was nominated for a Golden Mask, Russia’s prestigious national theatre award, for her performance as Madame Butterfly.
While touring throughout the British Isles in 2004, the Company received outstanding reviews, including:
• “Outstanding Butterfly soars to new heights. This latest company to visit these shores is outstandingly good. Fine singing, combined with convincing acting skills to create genuine characters”. Birmingham Post
• “It is a fresh and uplifting performance, beautifully sung, gorgeously costumed and minimally staged. It is visually stunning and the peasant chorus has the distinctly Russian quality that thrills”. The Stage
• “... The excellence of its orchestra – larger and much finer than the ones from the Moldovans or the Ukrainians have been allowed to bring recently”. Manchester Evening News
• “Rostov’s last visit to Britain with Onegin demonstrated an artistic integrity that is to the company’s credit”. Opera Now
Synopsis of Madame Butterfly
In the tradition of the best operas, Madame Butterfly is a tragic tale. Set in Japan, a US Naval lieutenant, Benjamin Pinkerton, marries a young Geisha girl, Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly). Pinkerton takes his vows lightly but Cio-Cio is more serious. Her uncle denounces her for marrying a Gai-Jin or foreigner. Three years pass during which time Pinkerton has returned to his homeland, Cio-Cio has had his child and awaits his return, although Goro the marriage broker is encouraging her to marry a wealthy idiot, Prince Yamadori who is besotted with her. Despite being virtually penniless Cio-Cio despises the Prince. Pinkerton’s friend, the US Consul Sharpless comes to break the news to Cio-Cio that Pinkerton is to return but that he has in the meantime married an American, however his nerve fails him in the face of her happiness and excitement at her husband’s expected return. When a US man-of-war arrives in the harbour, Cio-Cio is overjoyed, prepares a grand welcome and is eager to show him their child. However, once she discovers that he has remarried, she declares “Death with honour is better than life with dishonour” and takes her own life with her father’s dagger, so that her son may be brought up by his father. It is only at the end that Pinkerton realises his cavalier behaviour towards Cio-Cio and is filled with remorse for the suffering he has caused this beautiful butterfly. Cio-Cio dies in his arms.
The Great Entertainment Company
The Great Entertainment Company, is an events production and management company based in Dubai Media City, with offices in London. It was formed to bring International cultural and entertainment events to the Gulf. To date it has been responsible from bringing The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, and the Theatrical presentation of Queen – It’s a Kind of Magic to the UAE. More great events will become regulars in the social calendar.
