Outstanding performance of Madame Butterfly.

I WAS delighted to be asked to attend a performance of Madame Butterfly by Operahouse at the Masonic Hall in Loughborough.

Butterfly is probably my favourite Puccini opera and I have not seen it enough, perhaps eight times produced by professional companies: Vienna, Covent Garden and La Scala.

The Loughborough performance was outstanding. Puccini is very demanding of the principals and on Sunday night I was not disappointed. The role of Madame Butterfly was undertaken by Clare Proctor, she gave a wonderful performance as CioCio San, a hugely demanding role, grace, tone and style were the watchwords, nothing too flashy, but delivered with commitment and authenticity. No histrionics but a faithful presentation of the character behind the role, She was supported very well by Lyndon Gardner as a very credible Pinkerton, again style and beauty of tone prevailed, with convincing delivery.

As a semi-staged production with limited sets, but lovely costumes the whole evening for me was extremely enjoyable.

The supporting roles of Suzuki (Kate King), Sharpless (David Henshaw), Prince Yamadori and High Commissioner (Paul Blakemore), Goro (Norman Hockley) and The Bonze (Stephen Foster), were all executed with style and grace. It was apparent that a great deal of time had been spent working together to produce a coherent credible ensemble work. I cannot complete this review without particular reference to the accompanist Anthony Wilson! Outstanding: not only in his ability to play all the notes, but to be a sympathetic accompanist who was very much in touch with the singers and their needs.

This performance was well attended, however I would strongly recommend anyone remotely interested in opera to attend any of this company's productions.

Colin Mudd