Opera stars to sing ‘Madama Butterfly’ with NJ Festival Orchestra in Westfield and Madison

by JAY LUSTIG
Madama Butterfly NJFO

ASAKO TAMURA

Soprano Asako Tamura, who has sung the title role of “Madama Butterfly” at Royal Albert Hall in London, will do so at the New Jersey Festival Orchestra’s two New Jersey productions of the classic Puccini opera this weekend. They will take place March 3 at 7 p.m. at the Presbyterian Church in Westfield, and March 4 at 3 p.m. at the Concert Hall at Drew University in Madison.

Tenor Noah Stewart — who has sung with the Metropolitan Opera and released an album, Noah, that debuted in the Top 20 of the U.K. albums charts in 2012 — will play Pinkerton, the U.S. naval officer who falls in love with Madame Butterfly, a Japanese geisha. They will be joined in the cast by mezzo-soprano Sabrina Kim as Susuki, Butterfly’s maid; and baritone Kyle Albertson as Sharpless, the U.S. consul at Nagasaki.

Others in the cast will include Andrew Koshman as Prince Yamadori (Madame Butterfly’s suitor), Michaëla Aldridge as Kate (Pinkerton’s American wife), and Xuefang Wang as Madame Butterfly’s uncle, a monk.

The opera will be sung in Italian with English supertitles, with costumes, staging and design by the production’s artistic director, Maria Todaro. David Wroe will conduct the orchestra.

In a press release, Wroe called the cast members “fabulous singers” and said that “Each of them is a star who has already graced the stages of concert halls and opera houses across the world.”

The Westfield show will be preceded by a free pre-concert lecture by music historian Michael Rosin, at 6 p.m.

For more information, and tickets, visit njfestivalorchestra.org.

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16 comments

Linda Doyle February 28, 2018 - 2:32 pm

Looking forward to seeing this superb cast perform this weekend, lead by Westfield’s own internationally acclaimed conductor David Wroe!

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Keith Hertell February 28, 2018 - 2:39 pm

The NJFO produces the best concerts and operas this side of the Hudson River. This yer’s opera, Madama Butterfly is a don’t miss experience!
Maestro Wroe and artistic director Maria Todaro are at their best.

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Linda Habgood February 28, 2018 - 2:51 pm

Cannot wait to see the performance this Saturday! It is so incredible that we can draw this kind of talent to the stage in suburban NJ!

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Laurie Woog February 28, 2018 - 3:04 pm

Fabulous orchestra!

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Maria Fuentes February 28, 2018 - 3:05 pm

Can’t wait to hear Noah Stewart, so excited for this performance! NJFO is wonderful!

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Rose Lyght February 28, 2018 - 3:12 pm

Can’t wait to hear Noah Stewart!

New Jersey Festival Orchestra is superb! Always putting on super performances.

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Rose Lyght February 28, 2018 - 3:12 pm

New Jersey Festival Orchestra is superb! Always putting on super performances. Looking forward to the performance this weekend.

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Jackie Safran February 28, 2018 - 3:18 pm

Can’t wait for this one. NJ Festival Orchestra productions are definitely not to be missed.

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Chris Rosin February 28, 2018 - 3:27 pm

What a terrific organization to draw such high caliber soloists. Can’t wait!

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John Mangraviti February 28, 2018 - 3:30 pm

Have been looking forward to this concert since the beginning of the season. Can’t wait to be blown away by this group of internationally acclaimed guest performers. Definitely a performance not to be missed!

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R kelley February 28, 2018 - 3:30 pm

Will see this in Madisonon Sunday. Taking friends. Can’t wait.

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Pam February 28, 2018 - 3:42 pm

Looking forward to seeing this performance!

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Anthony Cook February 28, 2018 - 3:48 pm

Super excited to hear this opera with soloists who have recorded albums and sung with the best operas in the world. So grateful that we have this gem of an arts organization in our own backyard meaning we don’t have to fight the traffic and expense of traveling to Manhattan to see a similar production. This should be a fabulous evening for opera fans and non opera fans alike.

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Barron Cashdollar February 28, 2018 - 4:04 pm

Very much looking forward to this performance.

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Kris Luka March 1, 2018 - 1:04 pm

Cannot wait for another spectacular opera win concert this Saturday!!

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Kris Luka March 1, 2018 - 1:05 pm

Cannot wait for another spectacular opera in concert this Saturday!!

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