Symphony Teams with Summit Concert Choir for Madama Butterfly

The event begins at 8 p.m. Saturday and will be preceded by a lecture and pre-opera chat presented by the Westfield Symphony Orchestra at 7 p.m.

The concert will be performed at Summit High School where a group of student choir members, chosen and directed by vocal music teacher Wayne Mallette, will support the opera’s professional soloists.

The realization of this performance is credited to the Westfield Symphony’s music director David Wroe, and NY Opera Society’s executive director Jennifer Cho, who brought the program’s various musicians together.

“Part of the Westfield Symphony Orchestra’s mission is a very important educational component. We value very heavily the concept that we are advocates for the arts and through education can enhance the community for which we are performing,” said the British-American conductor Wroe.

This isn’t the first time that the WSO and Summit High School have teamed up on a musical project. Last year, the two organizations were joined by Westfield High School in Verdi’s classic opera Il Trovatore.

“We’ve developed a wonderful symbiotic relationship between the Westfield Symphony Orchestra and Summit High School,” said Wroe, adding “It was a great success last year.” The result, he said, was a deepened relationship between the two, followed by their current partnership on Madama Butterfly.

Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly originally premiered at the beginning of the 20th century and continues to stand the test of time as it reaches audiences worldwide. It is the tragic tale of a Japanese geisha betrayed by her American husband.

The story is set in Japan where the geisha, named Cio-Cio-San and known as Madama Butterfly, is wed to U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. In committing herself to the Lieutenant, Butterfly forsakes her culture and her family. Three years later, she waits for her husband’s return. He arrives with an American wife who wants to take the Pinkerton’s child back to her home country. Butterfly eventually agrees to give up her child and finally commits suicide, choosing to die in honor rather than live in disgrace.

The lead roles will be played by Korean soprano Yunah Lee who will take on the part of Butterfly, and Uruguayan-American tenor Gaston Rivero who will play Naval Officer Pinkerton. Supporting them will be Hai-Ting Chinn, American mezzo soprano, to play Cio-Cio-San’s maid Suzuki, and Gustavo Ahualli as Sharpless, the U.S. Consul at Nagasaki.

Additional parts will be sung by American tenor Brett Colby, NY Opera Society’s Jennifer Cho, baritone Kyung Mook Yum, and bass Yon Bok Kim. Together, these soloists make up a world-class troupe.

The Summit High students will be onstage with the orchestra, singing the original score in Italian during the production. Subtitles will be provided in English by means of an onstage screen.

Liz Ryan, Director of Marketing for the WSO, said of the choir students, “They’ve got some wonderfully challenging pieces to do. It’s a great opportunity for students interested in vocal performance to work alongside a world-class conductor and to sing alongside professional vocalists as well.”

This student-professional collaboration is a particularly unique performance. “We’ve been rehearsing right among the high school,” said Wroe, “It gives Summit students access to professionals in the musical field right on their doorstep.”

The enthusiasm goes both ways. Mallette, the choir director also said that both he and the students are excited to be working with professionals.

“We are loving the relationship we are having with Summit High School. The principal, Paul Sears, has been so encouraging and supportive. We are honored to be working with him and his colleagues,” said Wroe of the alliance.

The 2009 performance of Madama Butterfly is part of the Westfield Symphony’s annual subscription series which involves 5 performances, one of which is an opera. It is made possible through funding by the Joseph DeAlessandro Memorial.

Tickets to Saturday’s unique performance can be purchased directly from the Westfield Symphony Office, 224 E. Broad St. in Westfield and cost $25-$70. Tickets are also available, cash or check only, at Paperfolio in Summit, Town Bookstore in Westfield, and Martin Jewelers in Cranford. For more information, visit westfieldsymphony.org or newyorkoperasociety.com.