Spread Your Wings

Ignore the political reading of Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly when you see the famous opera. Even though the male lead, Pinkerton, is an American soldier, is named after a notoriously violent detective agency for corporate hire, and takes advantage of a young, innocent Asian woman while he’s stationed in her country, you shouldn’t be reading into the details. Like all good opera, Madama Butterfly functions on the level of mythology and only dishes on affairs of the human heart. By all means, hate Pinkerton, but only for his callousness as a human being; love Butterfly, but only for how she symbolizes loyalty and the power of the human spirit to be hopeful in the face of misery. Unless you want to rely on hope alone, though, you better get tickets now. Puccini’s masterpiece is the most-performed opera in North America for a reason. Expect a sell-out.
Wed., April 29, 8 p.m.; Fri., May 1, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 2, 8 p.m.; Sun., May 3, 2 p.m.; Tue., May 5, 8 p.m.; Fri., May 8, 8 p.m.; Sat., May 9, 8 p.m., 2009