Madama Butterfly

“Tenor Joshua Collier, Barn Opera’s founder and director, gave the American officer B.F. Pinkerton the full range of emotions by varying expression and color, from quietly tender to overtly dramatic; it was beautiful singing... Mezzo-soprano Julie Olssen, a Jamaica resident, proved a consummate pro as Butterfly’s maid Suzuki, combining warmth, power and tenderness with real vocal security...Soprano Helen Lyons, who recently returned to her home of Ferrisburgh, is a powerful and convincing singer. She was responsible for some lovely singing, and the audience was thrilled with her power...Baritone Cailin Marcel Manson sang Sharpless effectively with power...Montpelier, tenor Cameron Steinmetz as the opportunistic Goro, and soprano Allison Devery Steinmetz as Kate Pinkerton, sang effectively with real vocal beauty. Baritones Nicholas Tocci and Christopher Carbin proved effective and good singers in a variety of roles....Leading the entire effort as conductor from the piano was Kenneth Olssen of Jamaica, co-founder with his wife of Southern Vermont Lyric Theatre, his sometimes overly enthusiastic piano certainly delivered the power of much of the beauty of “Madama Butterfly.””