OPERA REVIEW OF CAPITOL OPERA'S PRODUCTION OF

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

 

Patricia Beach-Smith, the Sacramento Bee Arts Critic - 03/25/2000

"Net result positive as Capitol Opera stages 'Madama Butterfly"

Feel sorry for Cio-Cio San in "Madama Butterfly." Who wouldn't pity the deceived teenager? But be happy for the soprano who portrayed her so well in Capitol Opera Sacramento's opening-night performance of Giacomo Puccini's masterwork, which is set in 19th century Japan. Be happy also for Capitol Opera, which very successfully mounted its most ambitious production to date.

As Madama Butterfly, Kathleen Torchia-Sizemore deftly took the naive 15-year-old bride through a broad range of emotions and vocal challenges, to the brave, betrayed 18-year-old mother at the opera's gut-wrenching conclusion. Vocally and dramatically, Torchia-Sizemore led the cast in this soprano's tour de force.

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