Kentucky Opera's 2024-25 season includes 'Madama Butterfly,' 'Pygmalion,' & more
The Kentucky Opera has released its 2024-25 season lineup, filled with world-class productions and premieres. The upcoming season includes “Madama Butterfly,” “Amahl and the Night Visitors,” “This Little Light of Mine” and “Pygmalion."
Opening the season in November is Giacomo Puccini’s tragedy "Madama Butterfly," which follows a young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval officer with devastating consequences.
The second show is “Amahl and the Night Visitors," the holiday show of the season, held in December, which tells the story of the Three Kings following the star to Bethlehem.
Next, in February 2025, is “This Little Light of Mine,” which portrays key events of Fannie Lou Hamer’s life, a former sharecropper who rose to national prominence at the 1964 Democratic National Convention.
The season ends in April 2025 with “Pygmalion," a classic tale that weaves the original myth with an empowering opera reimagined through the lens of a woman’s perspective in the contemporary world.
“We have expanded our offerings for everyone this year, providing a greater variety of experiences for people of all ages and interests,” Barbara Lynne Jamison, Kentucky Opera general director + CEO, said in a news release.
New this season is a series of free "Awakenings Discussions." Community members are invited to the Opera Center, 708 Magazine St., for conversations about the story and relevant themes in the upcoming production.
Also new is Opera Tag-a-Long, for children ages 3-8 to explore opera with games, singing, and storytelling while their grownups attend a mainstage matinée performance. The program is a "fun, interactive afternoon at the Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health ... led by professional teaching artists and offers the entire family the opportunity to engage with opera," according to a release. It will be available during the Nov. 17 performance of "Madama Butterfly" and the Feb. 23 performance of "The Little Light of Mine."
Here's what else to know about the Kentucky Opera's upcoming 2024-25 season:
Kentucky Opera 2024-25 season lineup
'Madama Butterfly'
WHAT: The groundbreaking production is presented in a bold new point of view. This new production of one of opera’s most beloved works is created by an all-AAPI female creative team and directed by Mo Zhou. The show follows a young Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly, who is faced with the aftermath of trusting and marrying an American naval officer, the reckless pleasure-seeking B.F. Pinkerton. As Pinkerton’s intentions are revealed, Butterfly’s dreams are destroyed in ways of no return. This opera is sung in Italian with English captions.
CREDITS: Composer: Giacomo Puccini, Libretto by: Luigi Illica and Guoseppe Giacosa
WHEN: Nov. 15, 17. Pre-show "Awakenings" discussion at Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health, 708 Magazine St., Oct. 29, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway
'Amahl and the Night Visitors'
WHAT: The story tells of the night the Three Kings, following the star to Bethlehem, stop for shelter at the home of Amahl, a poor, crippled shepherd boy who lives with his widowed mother. Inspired by the Wise Men’s tale of a kingdom “built on love alone,” Amahl offers his own simple gift to the Christ Child. This opera is sung in English.
CREDITS: Composer and Libretto by: Gian Menotti
WHEN: Dec. 13, 15. Pre-show "Awakenings" discussion at Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health, 708 Magazine St., Dec. 2, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Kentucky Opera Center, 708 Magazine St.
'This Little Light of Mine'
WHAT: The story of Fannie Lou Hamer, a former sharecropper who rose to national prominence at the 1964 Democratic National Convention. A Black woman of humble origins, who spoke truth to power as perhaps no other civil rights leader and shines as an extraordinary reminder that every light, no matter how small, has the power to illuminate the world. The principal cast is joined by a chorus of community members. This opera is sung in English.
CREDITS: Composer: Chandler Carter, Libretto by: Diana Solomon-Glover
WHEN: Feb. 21, 23, 2025. Pre-show "Awakenings" discussion at Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health, 708 Magazine St., Feb. 6, 2025, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Brown Theatre, 315 W. Broadway
'Pygmalion'
WHAT: This classic tale weaves the original myth with an empowering opera reimagined through the lens of a woman’s perspective in the contemporary world. The Baroque ensemble echoes the resilience and passion of our protagonist as she shatters the ideal of the woman placed on the mythical pedestal and is released to define for herself what she should be. In other words — not today, Venus, not today. This opera is sung in English.
CREDITS: Composer: Jean-Philippe Rameau, Libretto by: Ballot de Sauvot
WHEN: April 4, 6, 8, 10-11, 2025. Pre-show "Awakenings" discussion at Kentucky Opera Center for Cultural Health, 708 Magazine St., March 26, 2025, 6 p.m.
WHERE: Kentucky Opera Center, 708 Magazine St.
How to get tickets for the Kentucky Opera 2024-25 season
Season packages for Kentucky Opera's 2024-25 season are on sale and include options for Friday night or Sunday matinee performances for all four shows, a Holiday 3-Pack, which includes "Madama Butterfly," "Amahl and the Night Visitors" and "This Little Light of Mine," or a Spring 3-Pack which includes "Madama Butterfly," "This Little Light of Mine," and "Pygmalion."
Prices vary by seat and show date. For information, call 502-584-4500 Tuesday-Thursday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or visit kyopera.org for more details.
Reach News Clerk Gege Reed at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Kentucky Opera 2024-25 season includes 'Madama Butterfly,' 'Pygmalion'
