2004 Production
Madame Butterfly
July - Hall for Cornwall, Truro
Suzuki (Cheryl Brendish),Sharpless(John Hobbs) and Cho-Cho San (Suzanne Manuell)
PHOTOGRAPHY: David Hunter
What the papers said:
Eric Dare, West Briton - "Duchy flies to new heights with Butterfly"
"Duchy Opera never fails to please, but their production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly reached new heights, applauded by full houses at the Hall for Cornwall on all three nights ... Duchy was fortunate to recruit Geraint Dodd, a principal with Welsh National Opera as Pinkerton. A superb tenor, he is matched by Suzanne Manuell and their love duet, one of the longest in opera, was absolutely superb."
"The movement, gestures, grouping of the chorus with their cane and paper parasols on act one - all showed meticulous planning to feast the eye and support the poignancy of the story."
 Douglas Williams, Western Morning News - "Beautiful Butterfly, one of Duchy's finest"
"... with two magnificent and moving performances, Welsh tenor Geraint Dodd as Lt. Pinkerton and Cornish soprano Suzanne Manuell as Butterfly, light the stage with their acting and thrill the audience with their singing...this will rank with Duchy's finest in its 27 years."
"The gorgeous kimono costumes and set designs by Annabella Waite, depicting a Japan of delicate romance, aid director Angela Thomas in developing the drama of betrayal and the sensitivity of young love."
"A strength of the company lies in the quality of its depth and experience in the supporting principals. The cast's constantly heightened sense of theatre, the luscious melodies plucking at the emotions with intensity and sincerity, combined in this triumph. A fine example of this is the offstage singing by the chorus in Act 2." |
