From North to South, California rang in the New Year with resonant music and engaging imagery. High Culture / High Art? As the following pages will show, California does have its share.

January was California's "Butterfly" month. San Francisco Opera opened the year with its production Madama Butterfly. A week later in the Southland, LA Opera rang in the year with its own production of this favorite opera. If one counted in Opera Pacific's yearend production of the same opera, one could truly say California rang out the old and rang in the new with an abundance of butterflies! Which proves beyond a doubt that Puccini's tear-jerker (indeed many an opera lover is known to shed a tear or two at the end even after having seen the opera for the umpteenth time!) remains a favorite of all time. And why not? It is a beautiful piece with the most memorable melodies and deserves its place in the repertory. Click below to view images.
Butterfly in San Francisco Butterfly in LA