Opera Company of Philadelphia • November 11, 15, 17, 20, 1996 at the Academy of Music

Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Lighting Design: Boyd Ostroff • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Joseph Rescigno

Pinkerton: Fernando De La Mora • Goro: Douglas Perry • Suzuki: Misoon Ghim • Sharpless: Gregg Baker • Cio-Cio-San: Patricia Schuman

 

“…by virtue of a clear-eyed approach to the score, this is a refreshing and powerful rendition of Puccini’s masterpiece. The Zen-like simplicity of the stage sets — which were built for this production by OCP’s own crew — transfer a great deal of the visual emphasis to such elements as lighting and stage direction. Director Kay Walker Castaldo had the cast drawing elegant patterns across the stage in a way that subtly underlined the unfolding melodrama.

The lighting, choreographed with virtuoso precision by Boyd Ostroff, produced a glowing atmosphere in the Act 1 love duet. This took place on an almost bare stage, except for an ominously lit statue of Buddha. The oddly pulsating and twinkling stars as well as the calmly lapping waves of Nagasaki harbor were achieved by back-lighting of seamless, full-stage screens. It invoked dream imagery that reinforced the illusory nature of Butterfly’s love. ” – Peter Burwasser, Philadelphia City Paper, 11/13/1996

“So lovely is the elusive, sea-dominated Nagasaki that in-house designers Boyd Ostroff and Kevin Baratier have created — mostly by canny lighting — that a discussion of the new production must start here. Indeed, as operagoers heading up the aisles at the Academy of Music found at Monday night’s opening, the stage magic was already in process even before the music had begun.” – Lesley Valdes, The Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/13/1996

“Boyd Ostroff and Kevin Baratier’s set looks simple but handsome.The painted backdrop gives a misty view of Nagasaki harbor, accented by some graceful trees, a religious shrine and a garden gate.” – Robert Baxter, Courier-Post, 11/11/1996

“The most memorable aspect of the OCP’s production is its look. The scenic design by Boyd Ostroff and Kevin Baratier, Ostroff’s lighting, and Richard St. Clair’s costumes all come together under Kay Walker Castaldo’s stage direction with impeccable beauty and riveting theatricality. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a lovelier, and therefore more heatbreaking, production of Madama Butterfly. But there’s more to it than that. It rings true at every moment, with every moment ravishing the eye just as it furthers the plot with every gesture and inflection delineating in a profound way the essential character of each of the four major roles.” – Michael Caruso, Chestnut Hill Local, 11/21/1996

 

Design Sketches

 

Production Photos

 

 

Design and Technical Drawings

 

 

Production Staff

Director of Production: Boyd Ostroff • Asst Production Director: Shima Orans • Scenic Coordinator: Kevin Baratier • Lighting Coordinator: John Hoey • Stage Manager: Tara Kovach • Asst Stage Managers: Geren Raywood, Lori Aghazarian • Asst to the Director: Renée Rollin • Costume Director: Richard St. Clair • Asst Lighting Designer: Michael Voytko

Technical Director: John Callahan • Property Master: Lou Petrucci, Jr • Master Electrician: Michael Hennessey • Asst Electrician: Mark Petrucci • Flyman: Timothy Callahan

Shop Carpenters: John Callahan, Matthew McIntyre, Paul Lodes, Thomas Bowen, Timothy Callahan, William Hennessey

Scenic Artists: Kevin Baratier (Charge), Jacob Heise, Paul Santoleri, Sarah Baptist, Kryzstof Bratun, Brenda Goldstein, Shari Schwartz, Marieke Sacks, Craig Dahlin

Props Artist: Shima Orans

 

Scenery Data

• Built Aug-Oct, 1996 at the Opera Company of Philadelphia Production Center / Frankford Arsenal
• Scenery construction budget: $60,900 • Actual cost: $52,663 • Total rental income: $81,200 as of May 2011
• Load-in crew: 14 • Run Crew: 12  (carpenters, flymen and props only) • 8 hours required for load-in • 1 truck required for shipping
• The 2002 production was performed in rotating repertory with Don Giovanni
• Current status unknown

 

Madama Butterfly – revival

Opera Company of Philadelphia • March 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 2002 at the Academy of Music

Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Lighting Design: John Stephen Hoey • Asst Director: David McCarty • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Hair and Makeup Design: Tom Watson • Conductor: Maurizio Barbacini

Cio-Cio-San: Xiu Wei Sun • Pinkerton: Misha Didyk • Sharpless: John Packard • Suzuki: Rinat Shaham • Goro: Ubaldo Feliciano Hernàndez • Bonze Brian Jauhianen

 

Production Photos (2002)

 

Backstage Photos (2002)

 

 

Production Staff (2002)

Director of Production: Jerome Sherk • Director of Design and Technology: Boyd Ostroff • Production Manager: Gregory Prioleau • Production Coordinator: Ulrike Shapiro • Props Coordinator: Cindy Felice • Lighting Coordinator: Drew Billiau • Staff Scenic Artist: Karen Tennant • Costume Director: Richard St. Clair • Stage Manager: Margo Maier • Asst Stage Managers: Tamara Broitman, Jennifer Nowinowski

Technical Director: John Callahan • Properties Master: Daniel Giaquinto • Master Electrician: Dennis Moore • Asst Electrician: William Hennessy • Flyman: Timothy Callahan

Props Artists: Christie Whisman, Rebekah Kilzer, Kate Carbone

 

 

Madama Butterfly on YouTube (videography by Boyd Ostroff for the Opera Company of Philadelphia)

 

Production History

Opera Company of Philadelphia • November 11, 15, 17, 20, 1996 (premiere) at the Academy of Music • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Lighting Design: Boyd Ostroff • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Hair and Makeup Design: Tom Watson • Conductor: Joseph Rescigno

L’Opéra de Montréal • October 8, 10, 13, 15, 19, 22, 1997 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Joseph Rescigno

Pittsburgh Opera • April, 1998 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Lighting Design: Boyd Ostroff • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair

Opera Saskatchewan • February 24, 26, 1999 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair

Nashville Opera Association • September 18, 21, 1999 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair

Opera Mississauga • April 29, May 2, 4, 6, 2000 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair

Opera Grand Rapids • November 3, 4, 2000 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair

Waldor Orchids (Philadelphia Flower Show) • February 25 – March 12, 2001 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Keven Baratier

Opera Company of Philadelphia • March 1, 3, 6, 8, 10, 14, 16, 2002 at the Academy of Music • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: Kay Walker Castaldo • Lighting Design: John Stephen Hoey • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Hair and Makeup Design: Tom Watson • Conductor: Maurizio Barbacini

Syracuse Opera • April 30, May 1, 2005 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Director: David McCarty • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Daniel Hege

Opera Carolina • October 28, 2006 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Lighting Design: Michael Baumgarten • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair • Conductor: Joseph Illick

Nashville Opera Association • April 12, 14, 2007 • Scenic Design: Boyd Ostroff/Kevin Baratier • Costume Design: Richard St. Clair