A production still of singers in Elizabethan dress singing on stage

Season 2023-24

Butler Opera Center

La Bohème • Song Re-Imagined • Maria • Tea • The Queen of Spades

Butler Opera Center

Past Season Galleries

 

La Bohème
La Bohème
October 2023

Music By
Giacomo Puccini

Libretto By
Luigi Illica & Giuseppe Giacosa
 

Photos by Amitava Sarkar

Three men perform on a stage aglow in neon lights.
Three men perform on a stage aglow in neon lights.
A man stands on stage with arms outstretched below a black moon with a ring of blue neon light around it. Another man sleeps on a mattress on the at his feet.
A man stands on stage with arms outstretched below a black moon with a ring of blue neon light around it. Another man sleeps on a mattress on the at his feet.
A man in a baseball cap and yellow scarf performs a gleeful song and dance number while other performers watch nearby.
A man in a baseball cap and yellow scarf performs a gleeful song and dance number while other performers watch nearby.
A Man and woman stand close to one another while they sing together. To their left, a man sits alone at a small cafe table. A chorus of singers looks on in the background.
A Man and woman stand close to one another while they sing together. To their left, a man sits alone at a small cafe table. A chorus of singers looks on in the background.
A group of singers stands on a balcony looking angrily at the ground below them. a sign that reads "Momus" is affixed to the balcony in front of them.
A group of singers stands on a balcony looking angrily at the ground below them. a sign that reads "Momus" is affixed to the balcony in front of them.
two men in bohemian dress stand facing each other, in a fighting stance. One man raises a closed umbrella above his head like it is a sword. The other has a baguette pointed like a blade.
two men in bohemian dress stand facing each other, in a fighting stance. One man raises a closed umbrella above his head like it is a sword. The other has a baguette pointed like a blade.

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An abstract image of a smoke filled stage, lit up with red and orange colored lights
Song Re-Imagined
November 2022

Works by
Rachmaninov •  Ibert  • De Falla 

Photos by Tzu-Chin Hsu

A singer in a three-piece suit performs on stage.
A singer in a three-piece suit performs on stage.
A singer performs in front of an underwater projected background
A singer performs in front of an underwater projected background
Soprano Leah Crocetto performs with pianist Tamar Sanikidze.
Soprano Leah Crocetto performs with pianist Tamar Sanikidze.
three singers perform on stage in front of a projection of a an expressionist field of poppies.
three singers perform on stage in front of a projection of a an expressionist field of poppies.
a singer in a formal dress sings in front of a concert grand piano. Behind her an expressionist painting of daisies is projected onto the background.
a singer in a formal dress sings in front of a concert grand piano. Behind her an expressionist painting of daisies is projected onto the background.

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a painting of a Cardinal with wings stretched out in flight - against a colorful impressionistic sunburst.
Maria
November 2023

music by 
Josíah Garza
 

libretto by 
Demian Chavez Galvan

a man stands with his arm around a woman as they perform on stage.
a man stands with his arm around a woman as they perform on stage.
a group of singers stand in a row in a classroom as if at attention. Behind them a chalkboard reads "No Spanish should be heard in class."
a group of singers stand in a row in a classroom as if at attention. Behind them a chalkboard reads "No Spanish should be heard in class."
A man sits at a table with his head buried in his hands, while a woman stands behind him, raising a bottle in the air as if about to smash it onto his head.
A man sits at a table with his head buried in his hands, while a woman stands behind him, raising a bottle in the air as if about to smash it onto his head.
A woman sings sorrowfully alone on stage, her hands clasped below her chin
A woman sings sorrowfully alone on stage, her hands clasped below her chin
two performers sing together on stage
two performers sing together on stage
A man and woman perform together center-stage, while a chorus sits at school desks behind them.
A man and woman perform together center-stage, while a chorus sits at school desks behind them.

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a surrealist image of a traditional Chinese home on a lake, set against a sunset, the home and lakefront evoke the shape of a tea pot.
Tea: A Mirror of Soul
February 2024

Music by 
Tan Dun
 

Libretto by  
Tan Dun
 

Photos by Amitava Sarkar

A woman kneels on stage, with an arm outstretched in front of her, surrounded by red fabric, she sings sorrowfully.
A woman kneels on stage, with an arm outstretched in front of her, surrounded by red fabric, she sings sorrowfully.
a shadowy figure stands on stage, at his feet is a traditional Chinese tea setting
a shadowy figure stands on stage, at his feet is a traditional Chinese tea setting
a woman dress in a flowing pink robe dances on stage while a man looks on.
a woman dress in a flowing pink robe dances on stage while a man looks on.
a shadowy figure stands on stage, at his feet is a traditional Chinese tea setting
a shadowy figure stands on stage, at his feet is a traditional Chinese tea setting
singers on stage in traditional Chinese dress
singers on stage in traditional Chinese dress
A shadowy figure stands at the center of a fog-filled stage, with a soft glowy moon in the background.
A shadowy figure stands at the center of a fog-filled stage, with a soft glowy moon in the background.
A masked man stands, examining a piece of Parchment while a second man sits cross-legged behind him.
A masked man stands, examining a piece of Parchment while a second man sits cross-legged behind him.
A man and woman stand on stage in traditional Chinese Dress, festoon light hang above them and a soft glowing moon is projected on stage behind them.
A man and woman stand on stage in traditional Chinese Dress, festoon light hang above them and a soft glowing moon is projected on stage behind them.

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A graphic image of a Queen of Spades from a deck of playing cards painted on a graffiti wall
The Queen of Spades
April 2024

Music By 
 Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

Libretto By 
 Modest Tchaikovsky

Photos by Tzu-Chin Hsu
 

two women sing together, holding hands in front of them, on a darkly lit stage, in the background other performers sit on benches and at tables.
two women sing together, holding hands in front of them, on a darkly lit stage, in the background other performers sit on benches and at tables.
a performer in undergarments sings sorrowfully with arms outstretched, while a man dress in a suit stand ominously behind her.
a performer in undergarments sings sorrowfully with arms outstretched, while a man dress in a suit stand ominously behind her.
performs stand around a stage that is dimly lit in a soft pink glow on a large set with many tables and pillars.
performs stand around a stage that is dimly lit in a soft pink glow on a large set with many tables and pillars.
a man in military uniform stands stoically on one side of the stage, while two women stand to his right holding Hands and looking nervous.
a man in military uniform stands stoically on one side of the stage, while two women stand to his right holding Hands and looking nervous.
two people perform together on stage, arm in arm, while members of the chorus stand behind them.
two people perform together on stage, arm in arm, while members of the chorus stand behind them.
a group of singers group on stage listening to a singer perform an aria
a group of singers group on stage listening to a singer perform an aria

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