Organization

Victorian Opera

Stage director

Ivan Heng

Set designer

Costume designer

Max Tan

Lighting designer

Philip Lethlean

Chorus master

Adrian Poon

Sound designer

Joel Manuel Fernandez

Singer

Cathy-Di Zhang

Zhu Yingtai

Austin Haynes

Liang Shanbo

Haotian Qi

Michael Dimovski

Ma Wencai

Divinity

Orchestra

Orchestra Victorian Opera Chamber Ensemble

English

The Butterfly Lovers

Singapore

Victoria Theatre

The Butterfly Lovers Mills,R

Public

Private

Approved

Wild Rice and Victorian Opera proudly present The Butterfly Lovers like you have never seen it before. Fresh from its critically acclaimed world premiere in Australia, this thrilling international collaboration marks the first time this classic Chinese folktale takes flight as an original English-language opera.

Trapped by the constraints of a rigidly patriarchal society, Zhu Yingtai boldly disguises herself as a man to pursue higher education. At school, she meets the bookish Liang Shanbo, and the proverbial sparks fly. What begins as a friendship between equals soon deepens into love between soulmates. But tragedy beckons when Yingtai is called home to be married to a wealthy suitor.

Inspiring and bittersweet in equal measure, the star-crossed love between Yingtai and Shanbo transcends barriers like family, societal expectations, and – in this new incarnation – gender and sexuality.

Conceived and directed with visionary flair by Ivan Heng, The Butterfly Lovers features a sensational new score by Richard Mills, one of Australia’s most distinguished composers, and a soul-stirring libretto by Joel Tan, one of Singapore’s most exciting young playwrights. Created in collaboration with a team of Singapore’s top theatre-makers and an international cast led by soprano Cathy-Di Zhang, countertenor Austin Haynes and baritone Haotian Qi, The Butterfly Lovers reaches across borders and cultures to bring this epic love story to exhilarating new heights.

The Butterfly Lovers by Mills, From (2023/2023), Directed by Ivan Heng,, Victoria Theatre, Singapore, Singapore

Performance credits (Cast & Crew )

Cast

Crew

Ensemble

Program, About & Synopsis

Photos

Further reading

Performance Dates & Venues

Venues