| Madama Butterfly |
All images on www.noulinmerat.com are copyrighted and under the ownership of Julia Noulin-Merat
Pictures are courtesy of Dom Pagano
Pictures are courtesy of Dom Pagano
| Abraham-Chavez Theatre, El Paso Opera |
| by Giacomo Puccini directed by David Grabarkewitz lights and projections Barry Steele, costumes Patricia A. Hibbert |
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circular, slightly raised front of
the stage and a third
connected by steps to a
catwalk through which cast
members entered and exited.
Scenic designer Julia Noulin-
Merat's bigger achievement is
a series of large fusana, or
Japanese sliding doors
typical of the 19th century
setting. They loomed from the
top to the bottom of the stage,
forming a kind of wall to
separate the larger action
from the more intimate
scenes.
They also doubled as a large-
scale canvas for lighting
designer Barry Steele's
evocative color splotches and
video imagery, which included
a star-crossed wedding night
and Butterfly's eerie, silent
movie-like romantic fever
dreams.
There's no illusions about
EPO's "Madama Butterfly."
Opera is back after a two-year
absence, and that's a dream
come true for starving
aficionados.
El Paso Times
Doug Pullen
Aiding immeasurably in the
enchanting romance were the
gorgeous set and lighting
effects. Scenic designer Julia
Noulin-Merat turned the
Chavez Theatre stage into a
lovely Japanese garden
leading into the airy cottage
with an understated
ambiance. Large sliding shoji
screens at front and rear
reaching from top to stage
floor were moved to create
separate areas.
Enchanting romance of
‘Madama Butterfly’
By Betty Ligon
the stage and a third
connected by steps to a
catwalk through which cast
members entered and exited.
Scenic designer Julia Noulin-
Merat's bigger achievement is
a series of large fusana, or
Japanese sliding doors
typical of the 19th century
setting. They loomed from the
top to the bottom of the stage,
forming a kind of wall to
separate the larger action
from the more intimate
scenes.
They also doubled as a large-
scale canvas for lighting
designer Barry Steele's
evocative color splotches and
video imagery, which included
a star-crossed wedding night
and Butterfly's eerie, silent
movie-like romantic fever
dreams.
There's no illusions about
EPO's "Madama Butterfly."
Opera is back after a two-year
absence, and that's a dream
come true for starving
aficionados.
El Paso Times
Doug Pullen
Aiding immeasurably in the
enchanting romance were the
gorgeous set and lighting
effects. Scenic designer Julia
Noulin-Merat turned the
Chavez Theatre stage into a
lovely Japanese garden
leading into the airy cottage
with an understated
ambiance. Large sliding shoji
screens at front and rear
reaching from top to stage
floor were moved to create
separate areas.
Enchanting romance of
‘Madama Butterfly’
By Betty Ligon
| julia noulin.mérat scenic design |