Saturday, Nov. 2, 3:30 p.m., the last performance of “Madama Butterfly”: Vincenzo Costanzo as Pinkerton

Saturday, Nov. 2, at 3:30 p.m. in the Great Hall, the last performance of Giacomo Puccini's"Madama Butterfly ” .

On the podium is principal conductor Daniele Gatti; direction is by Lorenzo Mariani.

On stage in the principal parts are Carolina López Moreno as Cio-Cio-San; Nicola Alaimo plays Sharpless; Suzuki is played by Marvic Monreal.

Tenor Vincenzo Costanzo takes over the part of F. B. Pinkerton and crosses the milestone of 330 performances sustained during his career

Firenze, 31 ottobre 2024 – Wednesday, Nov. 2, at 3:30 p.m., in the Sala Grande, is scheduled the last performance of Giacomo Puccini's Madama Butterfly : the show, greeted with great warmth and enthusiasm by the audience that has crowded the theater in each of the performances so far.On the podium, conducting theMaggio Orchestra and Chorus, is principal conductor Daniele Gatti; the direction is by Lorenzo Mariani; the chorus director is Lorenzo Fratini.

On stage, in the part of the protagonist Cio-Cio-San, Carolina López Moreno. Vincenzo Costanzo, fresh from the success of Tosca that closed the opera program of the last 86th Maggio Festival, plays F.B. Pinkerton, taking over for Piero Pretti; Nicola Alaimo takes the role of Consul Sharpless while Marvic Monreal is Suzuki. Goro and Uncle Bonzo are played by Oronzo D'Urso, and Bozhidar Bozhkilov, respectively. Min Kim and Elizaveta Shuvalova take the roles of Prince Yamadori and Kate Pinkerton; Davide Sodini is The Imperial Commissar. Rounding out the cast is a large group of performers from the May Chorus: Giovanni Mazzei is Uncle Yakusidé; Egidio Massimo Naccarato is The Register Officer, Thalida Marina Fogarasi; Paola Leggeri and Nadia Pirazzini are respectively The Aunt, The Cousin and The Mother of the protagonist Cio-Cio-San.

The sets are by Alessandro Camera, costumes by Silvia Aymonino and lighting by Marco Filibeck.

Speaking about the character he played and his return to the Maggio in the span of a few months after last June's Tosca, Vincenzo Costanzo emphasized his emotions at once again taking on the role of Pinkerton, a key character in his career to whom he has voiced on no less than 329 occasions around the world before this latest one in Florence: “I am really happy to be here in Florence where ten years ago, in February 2014, I first played the role of F.B. Pinkerton. I was given this chance at the age of 22, and now I have the opportunity again to bring to the stage this character that has accompanied me throughout my career: the one on November 2, it seems almost unbelievable to me, will therefore be the 330th time I will voice Pinkerton. I still vividly remember my first production of Madama Butterfly with Juraj Valčuha conducting and Fabio Ceresa directing, with Fiorenza Cedolins in the role of Cio-Cio-San; it was indeed a great thrill. So I thank the superintendence and Daniele Gatti who wanted me: I feel truly honored to be back here in Maggio and to take part in this magnificent production, with maestro Gatti's resounding direction, Lorenzo Mariani's beautiful direction and where therefore, more than 10 years later, I continue my journey 'together' with Pinkerton.”