The Fresno State Symphony Orchestra and Opera Theatre will present Puccini’s famous opera with performances at 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Fresno State Concert Hall. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for faculty and seniors and $5 for students.
Every two years, music faculty at Fresno State take on the endeavor of producing a full-scale opera in the Fresno State Concert Hall. During the planning meetings, the faculty decided they would likely hire someone to play the role of Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly). That’s when assistant professor of voice Dr. Maria Briggs stepped in and offered to take on the challenge.
Filling the lead roles for an opera can be tricky. The person in question must have not only a strong voice and acting ability but the capacity to memorize nearly two-and-a-half hours of music which is performed entirely in Italian.