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RealD and the Royal Opera House announce UK release date of 5 March, 2012 for Madam Butterfly 3D.
RealD Inc. and the Royal Opera House announced that the feature film Madam Butterfly 3D will be released worldwide beginning with the UK and Ireland on March 5, 2012, playing exclusively in RealD 3D-equipped cinemas.
Combining the excitement of a live stage production with the immediacy of a feature film, MADAM BUTTERFLY 3D is the perfect event for first-timers and life-long opera fans alike. The second co-production between RealD and London’s Royal Opera House (following last year’s Carmen in 3D), MADAM BUTTERFLY 3D gives viewers the best seat in the house at one of the world’s most prestigious opera houses for one of the world’s best loved operas, taking audiences into the heart of this intimate production — immersing them in a tragic story of love, passion and betrayal, all in spectacular RealD 3D. MADAM BUTTERFLY 3D was captured with 3D cameras during live performances at the Royal Opera House to bring the opera to movie-goers worldwide exclusively in RealD 3D cinemas.
The story of a Japanese geisha’s love for an American naval officer moved Puccini to compose music of rare and sensual beauty, but also of heartrending power, as Butterfly’s tragedy unfolds to its devastating conclusion. This work is one of opera’s most ravishing scores, featuring the famous Humming Chorus, Butterfly’s heart-rending aria ‘Un bel di vedremo’ (One fine day),such wonderfully lyrical passages as Cio-Cio-San’s first entrance, Pinkerton’s seduction of her, and Cio-Cio-San’s passionate farewell to her son.
Liping Zhang appears as the Butterfly of the title, Cio-Cio-San, a role for which she is acclaimed worldwide ? and James Valenti makes an especially dashing Pinkerton, the young officer whose thoughtless toying with love is the catalyst for this tragic story. This revival of Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s elegant, oriental production offers the drama, the musical richness and the sheer enjoyment of great performance that makes The Royal Opera world class.
MADAM BUTTERFLY 3D is directed for cinema by Julian Napier and produced by Phil Streather. The original stage production was directed by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier with costume designs by Agostino Cavalca and set designs by Christian Fenouillat. The music is by Giacomo Puccini and the libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica.
MADAM BUTTERFLY 3D was filmed in RealD 3D during live performances at the Royal Opera House in July 2011.
Certificate and running time: PG / 130 mins
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