Former KENS-5 sports anchor Dan Cook used to say that “the opera ain’t over ‘til the fat lady sings,” but with San Antonio Opera’s wonderful 09-10 season line-up, you’ll wish it never came to a close. With 2 classic tragedies and a comic masterpiece, expect the whole range of human emotion to be covered as the performers belt out arias that will stay with you long after the show ends.
It all starts on September 11-13 with Madama Butterfly. This tragic romance by Giacomo Puccini will have you in tears with its heartbreaking ending. The tale follows Butterfly, a geisha who falls in love with an American lieutenant. The lieutenant abandons her, not knowing that she’s pregnant, but returns 3 years later with a new wife.
Next, on January 8-10, is Gaetano Donizetti’s comic masterpiece Daughter of the Regiment. In this delightful opera, a French regiment adopts the orphan Marie as their “daughter,” but will only allow her to marry a soldier. Instead, she falls in love with Tonio, a civilian. Fortunately, a series of comic plot twists bring a long lost relative, an arranged marriage, a raid on a castle, and a happy ending.
Finally, the season closes out on June 18-20 with Rigoletto, Guiseppe Verdi’s tragic tale of revenge. Based on a play by Victor Hugo, the story features a cursed court jester, an amorous duke, a kidnapping, and a disgraced daughter. This is the first of Verdi’s three great operas during his “middle period” and considered to be one of his greatest masterpieces.
All shows are performed at the Municipal Auditorium. Subscriptions start as low as $110. Enjoy the show!
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