The New York Times recognizes Krovytska's performance as Butterfly

NEW YORK - The New York Times review of a new production of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" at the New York City Opera, which opened November 17, singled out soprano Oksana Krovytska's performance for the sensitivity and credibility brought to the title role. (A previous review, penned by Allan Kozinn, appeared in the March 10 issue of The New York Times, had praised Ms. Krovytska as Butterfly in the City Opera's George Manahan production.)

In the latest review, dated November 19, critic Anthony Tommasini noted that "As Butterfly, the performance of the Ukrainian soprano Oksana Krovytska was deeply moving, though uneven. Her voice sometimes had a grainy quality, and her low range was patchy. However, her sound was distinctive, she brought a wide range of expressive colors to her singing and her phrasing was often elegant. Most important, Ms. Krovytskla movingly inhabited the role."

Mr. Tommasini devoted the first part of the review to the Mark Lamos's production of the opera, which, in effect, "replaces the company's 30-year-old Frank Corsaro production." The Lamos's production, with set design by Michael Yeargan, was characterized as "scenically abstract," with the staging rescuing the opera "from the fusty realism and chintzy exotica that mar other productions." Mr. Tomamasini went on to add that Mr. Lamos "is a sensitive director of singers."

In this production the role of Pinkerton was sung by the young American tenor Barton Green, covering for the indisposed Alfredo Portilla, with mezzo-soprano Kathryn Honan-Carter as Suzuki, baritone James Maddalena as Sharpless, tenor John Daniecki as Goro, and Guido Johannes Rumstadt, conducting.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, December 6, 1998, No. 49, Vol. LXVI

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