Eminent opera producer and director Ellen Kent announces a 2020 UK tour of two of Puccini’s best loved operas, Madama Butterfly and La Bohème. Featuring a full orchestra, international acclaimed singers, sumptuous costumes and exquisite sets, these two productions offer audiences the unique opportunity to experience these classic operas in their original language (with English surtitles) at their local theatre. The tour begins on 21 January 2020 at the Palace Theatre Manchester La Bohème.
Back by overwhelming public demand, the award-winning operatic production of Madama Butterfly returns with stunning sets including a spectacular Japanese garden and fabulous costumes including antique wedding kimonos from Japan. One of the world’s most popular operas, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the heart-breaking story of the beautiful young Japanese girl Cio Cio San who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant with tragic results. Musical highlights include the melodic Humming Chorus, the moving aria Un bel dì vedremo (One Fine Day), the famous tenor aria Amore o grillo (Love or fancy) and the unforgettable Bimba, Bimba, non piangere (Love Duet.) The cast includes the fabulous Korean soprano Elena Dee and the celebrated international soprano Alyona Kistenyova. Based on a true story, Madama Butterfly was the inspiration for the hit musical Miss Saigon.
La Bohème is one of the most romantic operas ever written. Set in the backstreets and attics of Bohemian Paris it tells the heart-breaking tale of the doomed, consumptive Mimi and her love for a penniless writer, Rodolfo. The set reflects the Bohemian art of the period and was inspired by Chagall, Renoir and the Impressionists alongside authentic period costumes. The production will include a brass band, snow effects and Musetta’s dog will also make an entrance. This classic tale of Parisian love and loss features many famous arias including Che gelida manina (Your Tiny Hand is Frozen), Sì, mi chiamano Mimì (They Call Me Mimi) and Quando me'n vo (Musetta’s Waltz). Korean soprano Elena Dee will share the role of Mimi with the celebrated international soprano Alyona Kistenyova. Maria Tonina is Musetta. The production also boasts a full orchestra and chorus.
Tickets go on general sale from theatres on Friday 7 June at 10am. See below.
2020 TOUR DATES
Tuesday 21 January – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3019
Wednesday 22 January – Madama Butterfly Website: www.atgtickets.com/manchester
Palace Theatre, Manchester
Friday 24 January – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3020
Saturday 25 January – Madama Butterfly Website: www.atgtickets.com/oxford
New Theatre, Oxford
Sunday 26 January – La Bohème Box Office: 01902 429212
Wolverhampton Grand* Website: www.grandtheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 28 January – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01293 553636
The Hawth, Crawley Website: www.parkwoodtheatres.co.uk/The-Hawth
Friday 31 January – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 7650
Saturday 1 February – Madama Butterfly Website: www.atgticket.com/brighton
Theatre Royal, Brighton
Sunday 2 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01684 892277
Festival Theatre, Malvern Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Monday 3 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0151 666 0000
Floral Pavilion, New Brighton Website: www.floralpavilion.com
Tuesday 4 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 3011
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Website: www.atgtickets.com/birmingham
Wednesday 5 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01322 220000
Orchard Theatre, Dartford Website: www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
Thursday 6 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01424 462288
White Rock Theatre, Hastings Website: www.whiterocktheatre.org.uk
Friday 7 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01483 369350
G Live, Guildford Website: www.glive.co.uk
Saturday 8 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 7649
Regent Theatre, Stoke Website: www.atgtickets.com/stoke
Sunday 9 February – La Bohème Box Office: 01256 844244
The Anvil, Basingstoke Website: www.anvilarts.org.uk
Thursday 13 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 7646
New Wimbledon Theatre Website: www.atgtickets.com/wimbledon
Friday 14 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 3023
Princess Theatre, Torquay Website: www.atgtickets.com/torquay
Saturday 15 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01745 330000
Pavilion Theatre, Rhyl Website: www.rhylpavilion.co.uk
Sunday 16 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0118 960 6060
The Hexagon, Reading Website: www.readingarts.com/hexagon
Wednesday 19 February – La Bohème Box Office: 01473 433100
Regent Theatre, Ipswich* Website: www.apps.ipswich.org.uk
Saturday 22 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01256 844244
The Anvil, Basingstoke Website: www.anvilarts.org.uk
Sunday 23 February – La Bohème Box Office: 01684 892277
Festival Theatre, Malvern Website: www.malvern-theatres.co.uk
Tuesday 25 February – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01382 434940
Caird Hall, Dundee Website: www.dundeebox.co.uk
Wednesday 26 February – La Bohème Box Office: 0131 228 1155
Thursday 27 February – Madama Butterfly Website: www.usherhall.co.uk
Usher Hall, Edinburgh
Friday 28 February – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3022
Saturday 29 February – Madama Butterfly Website: www.atgtickets.com/sunderland
Sunderland Empire Theatre
Sunday 1 March– Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0141 353 8000
Monday 2 March – La Bohème Website: www.glasgowconcerthalls.com
Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow
Wednesday 4 March – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 888 9991
Thursday 5 March – Madama Butterfly Website: www.bathforum.co.uk
The Forum, Bath*
Friday 6 March – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 888 9991
Saturday 7 March – Madama Butterfly Website: www.swansea.gov.uk/swanseagrandtheatre
Swansea Grand Theatre
Wednesday 11 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 7607
Aylesbury Waterside Theatre Website: www.atgtickets.com/aylesbury
Thursday 12 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 03333 44 5000
Southport Theatre Website: www.waterfrontsouthport.co.uk
Friday 13 March – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 7649
Regent Theatre, Stoke Website: www.atgtickets.com/stoke
Saturday 14 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01473 433100
Regent Theatre, Ipswich Website: www.apps.ipswich.org.uk
Sunday 15 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0203 285 6000
Churchill Theatre, Bromley Website: www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 17 March – La Bohème Box Office: 01482 300306
Thursday 19 March – Madama Butterfly Website: www.hulltheatres.co.uk
Hull City Hall
Friday 20 March – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3024
Saturday 21 March – Madama Butterfly Website: www.atgtickets.com/york
Grand Opera House, York
Wednesday 25 March – La Bohème Box Office: 01274 432000
Thursday 26 March – Madama Butterfly Website: www.bradford-theatres.co.uk
Alhambra Theatre, Bradford
Friday 27 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01702 351135
Cliffs Pavilion, Southend Website: www.southendtheatres.co.uk
Saturday 28 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 02392 828282
King’s Theatre, Portsmouth Website: www.kingsportsmouth.co.uk
Tuesday 31 March – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 01553 764864
King’s Lynn Corn Exchange* Website: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
Wednesday 1 April – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 029 2087 8444
St David’s Hall, Cardiff Website: www.stdavidshallcardiff.co.uk
Thursday 2 April – La Bohème Box Office: 01483 369350
G Live, Guildford Website: www.glive.co.uk
Friday 3 April – La Bohème Box Office: 0300 500 0595
Saturday 4 April – Madama Butterfly Website: www.bournemouthpavilion.co.uk
Bournemouth Pavilion Theatre
Sunday 5 April – Madam Butterfly Box Office: 0844 871 7651
Monday 6 April – La Bohème Website: www.atgtickets.com/richmond
Richmond Theatre
Tuesday 7 April – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3023
Princess Theatre, Torquay Website: www.atgtickets.com/torquay
Thursday 9 April – La Bohème Box Office: +353 61 331549
Friday 10 April – Madama Butterfly Website: www.uch.ie
University Concert Hall, Limerick
Saturday 11 April – Madama Butterfly Box Office: +353 01 417 0000
Sunday 12 April – La Bohème Website: www.nch.ie
National Concert Hall, Dublin*
Tuesday 14 April – La Bohème Box Office: 0844 871 3011
Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Website: www.atgtickets.com/birmingham
Wednesday 15 April – La Bohème Box Office: 01494 512000
Wycombe Swan Website: www.wycombeswan.co.uk
Thursday 16 April – La Bohème Box Office: 01253 290190
Friday 17 April – Madama Butterfly Website: www.blackpoolgrand.co.uk
Blackpool Grand Theatre*
Saturday 18 April – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0116 233 3111
Sunday 19 April – La Bohème Website: www.demontforthall.co.uk
De Montfort Hall, Leicester
Monday 20 April – La Bohème Box Office: 0203 285 6000
Churchill Theatre, Bromley Website: www.churchilltheatre.co.uk
Tuesday 21 April – La Bohème Box Office: 01553 764864
King’s Lynn Corn Exchange* Website: www.kingslynncornexchange.co.uk
Wednesday 22 April – Madama Butterfly Box Office: 0114 2789 789
City Hall, Sheffield Website: www.sheffieldcityhall.co.uk
Thursday 23 April – La Bohème Box Office: 01322 220000
Orchard Theatre, Dartford Website: www.orchardtheatre.co.uk
*on sale soon
