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Huang Ruo’s M. Butterfly

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Kangmin Justin Kim and Mark Stone

Kangmin Justin Kim (Song Liling) and Mark Stone (René Gallimard), photo by Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera

A smash-hit Broadway play turned movie, David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly metamorphoses into music theatre as the UK premiere of Huang Ruo’s operatic reworking takes wing.

Love, betrayal, self-deception. The themes of M. Butterfly intertwine with those of Puccini’s achingly tragic opera; but here they’re ingeniously upended as the action is relocated to Paris and Mao’s China. Nothing is quite what it seems. Stereotypes are challenged, power struggles realigned. Reprising their roles from the 2022 Santa Fe world premiere, Kangmin Justin Kim is the alluring Chinese opera singer of the title, with Mark Stone as René Gallimard, a man whose life is about to implode in more ways than one.

Carolyn Kuan ‘conducts with empathy’ says the New York Times of the Santa Fe performances; Kangmin Justin Kim’s creation of the title role was described by Opera Today as ‘electrifying … his raw, fearless acting balanced by some of the most sublime, emotionally invested, beautifully coloured vocalising of the season’. 

Tagged with: Classical music Barbican Presents BBC Symphony Orchestra More...

This production contains nudity, graphic language, and a depiction of self-harm.

This performance will end at approximately 10.30pm with a 20 minute interval.

Co-produced by the Barbican and BBC Symphony Orchestra

Programme

Huang Ruo M. Butterfly (concert staging)

Performers

BBC Symphony Orchestra
Carolyn Kuan conductor
Kangmin Justin Kim Song Liling
Mark Stone René Gallimard
Fleur Barron Comrade Chin/Shu Fung
Kevin Burdette Manuel Toulon/Judge
Charne Rochford Marc
James Robinson director
Kimberley S Prescott re-staging director
BBC Singers

Digital programme

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