The Israeli Opera 2016
Madam Butterfly
An opera held at Park HaYarkon in front of 30,000 audience members. The setting included 11 rectangular LED screens which were used to create an 18 meter long composition along the length of the stage.
Much like the world of Madame Butterfly, torn between Japanese tradition and American modernity, the video art finds itself pulled between these two extremes. I collaborated with artist Kazuo Ishii to create calligraphy in motion. We enhanced and adapted the calligraphy in post-production, then dismantled and rebuilt it on the LED screens.
A 2.5 hour long opera necessitates a very rich content language. We chose to remain punctilious while also making use of a variety of different concepts and styles, from fire and dance rituals to classic animation and simulations using 3D fabrics.
MOOD BOARD
Affiliates:
Libretto: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Set and Costume designer: Niv Manor
Sound designer: Yuval Silberstein
Light designer: Uri Morag
Movement designer: Yoram Carmi
The choir of the Israeli Opera
Conductor: Ethan Schmeiser
Cio Cio San: Ira Bartman
B. F. Pinkerton: Davida Giusti
Sharpless: Vladimir Braun
Suzuki: Naama Goldman
Kate Pinkerton: Anat Cherni
Goro: Yossef Aridan
Bonze: Noah Briger (backstage singing)
Dolore: Itamar Menashe
Dancers: Itzik Gabay, Mor Bar Zachai, Shirley Barby and Kim Gordon