Karah Son was born and raised in Seoul, South Korea, and studied in the University of Seoul, Vivaldi Music Conservatory in Novara and the Academy of the Teatro all Scala in Milan, where she worked with the legendary Mirella Freni. Her impressive artistry has led to her winning multiple competitions, such as the national competition organized by Korea Joongang Daily and the “Vissi d’Arte” international competition in Milan. Son made her debut in 1997 when she performed the Countess in The Marriage of Figaro   at the National Theater in Seoul. And ever since, she’s been showcasing her vocal chops to audiences around the world. This fall, she’ll be singing Cio-Cio-San in our production of Madame Butterfly, and we can’t wait to have her grace our stage in her signature role. 

Jonathan Tetelman 

Born in Chile and raised in New Jersey, Tetelman has quickly become one of the major stars of his generation. He’s been lauded for having a “vocally magnificent, radiant and distinctive tenor” voice by Opera Aktuell. An international sensation, Tetelman has delighted audiences at some of the most famous opera houses in the world including: 

• Metropolitan Opera 
• San Francisco Opera 
• Teatro del Maggio Fiorentino 
• and Deutsche Oper Berlin 

Tetelman has even signed a multi-album contract with Deutsche Grammophon which has led to two albums, Arias and The Great Puccini. Tetelman will be wowing our audience with his portrayal of B.F. Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly.  We're honored to have such an amazing talent in his first appearance with us and are sure he’ll amaze us all with his voice.

Hyona  Kim 

This native of Seoul, South Korea, has been lauded as a “vibrant mezzo soprano” and her voice described as a “dark toned, agile mezzo-soprano" by the New York Times. She has an incredibly versatile repertoire that includes:  

• Azucena in Il Trovatore  
• Mistress Quickly in Falstaff 
• Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream 
• Amneris in Aida 
• and, of course, Suzuki in Madame Butterfly 

Her incredible talent has led to her win the Gerda Lissner Competition, Jennie Tourel prize in the Poulenc Competition, and the Suri Competition and the Schubert Lied Competition in South Korea. Kim will be playing the role of Suzuki in her first Los Angeles appearance, and we can’t wait to hear her incredible voice.  

Gabrielle Turgeon 

A member of our new class of Young Artists, soprano Gabrielle Turgeon has already garnered critical acclaim after her performance in the finals of the Canadian Opera Company Centre Stage Competition. She received her master’s from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music in 2024 and studied at the Aspen Music Festival and School, the Houston Grand Opera Young Artists’ Vocal Academy and the Ravinia Steans Music Institute. Turgeon will be singing the role of Kate Pinkerton in Madame Butterfly, and she is also set to return in Ainadamar   and Rigoletto   and covering Despina in Cosi fan tutte.  

Hyungjin Son 

The next Young Artist making a debut in Butterfly   is baritone Hyungjin Son, who will be singing the role of Prince Yamadori. Son graduated with a music degree in vocal performance from Seoul National University, a Master of Music degree in vocal performance from New England Conservatory and a degree from Opera Institute of Boston University. He was named a national semi-finalist of Metroplitan Opera Laffont Competition in 2023, the district winner in 2022 and an encouragement winner in 2020 in the Boston district of Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Son will return throughout the season, appearing in our productions of Romeo and Juliet, Ainadamar   and Rigoletto.  

Vinícius Costa 

Brazilian bass-baritone Vinícius Costa has delivered award winning performances in some of the biggest vocal competitions in the world. He’s even won the Ralph Vaughan Williams Award for best performance of an English song at the 2022 Wigmore Hall Song Competition. Beginning his vocal and music education in 2014 with the Guri Santa Marcelina Program, he’s trained under teachers such as Maria Lucia Waldow, Francisco Campos, Marcel Boone and even superstar Renee Fleming. We’re sure he’ll blow you all away when he graces our stage in Madame Butterfly   as the Imperial Commissioner, and he’ll back as the Duke of Verona in Romeo and Juliet, among other roles. 

Mario Gas 

One of the most prolific and versatile stage directors working today, Mario Gas has been offering fresh takes on classic operas and musicals throughout his career. He was awarded the National Theater Prize of Catalonia in 1996 for his adaptation of Sweeney Todd   and would be appointed director of the Spanish theater of Madrid in 2004. He’s put on almost 100 productions throughout the world which include shows such as Les Troyans, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, La Traviata    and of course Madame Butterfly. We can’t wait to put on his version of Madame Butterfly   which takes place entirely on a film set, it is sure to be one of the most unique takes you’ve seen on Puccini’s classic.  

Ezio Frigerio 

Ezio Frigerio was a prominent stage designer for theater, opera and film. His career started in 1955 where he’d create the stage for   The House of Bernard Alba   at the Piccolo Teatre in Milan. This would eventually lead to the film world where he’d work with Italy’s top directors such as Vittorio de Sica, Liliana Cavani, Bernardo Bertolucci, Jean Paul Rappeneau and Volker Schlondorff. This background in film turns out to be perfect for this production of   Madame Butterfly,   which all takes place on a film set. Although Frigerio passed away in 2022 at the age of 91, we’re honored to share his legacy and to showcase one of his stellar sets in our theater. 

Franca Squarciapino 

Franca Squarciapino is an Italian costume designer who even won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design in 1990 for Cyrano de Bergerac. She has spent much of her career designing costumes for major theaters and opera houses, including the Burgtheater in Vienna, Royal Opera at Covent Garden, the Metropolitan Opera, the Vienna State Opera, and Zurich Opera among others.