MEZZO-SOPRANO SUSAN GRAHAM TO HOST LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER'S BROADCAST OF NEW YORK CITY OPERA'S MADAMA BUTTERFLY Thursday, March 20, 2008 at 8:00 p.m. on PBS* FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE — Celebrated mezzo-soprano Susan Graham will host Live From Lincoln Center's live telecast of New York City Opera's production of Puccini's Madama Butterfly from the New York State Theater, airing Thursday, March 20 at 8:00 p.m.* on PBS. One of the most beloved operas of all time, Madama Butterfly premiered at the turn of the century, and its tragic tale of a disastrous clash of cultures still resonates with audiences today. New York City Opera's beautifully austere production directed by Mark Lamos stars Shu-Ying Li as Cio-Cio-San, and James Valenti as the dashing B.F. Pinkerton. New York City Opera Music Director George Manahan will conduct. As host, Ms. Graham will conduct intermission interviews with the leads, director, and music director. Susan Graham, host for the broadcast, is a versatile and compelling singing artist who is considered one of today's foremost opera stars. Her recent triumph in Gluck's Iphigenie en Tauride was seen by audiences at the Metropolitan Opera, Covent Garden, Paris Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and San Francisco Opera. The role of Sister Helen Prejean in the opera Dead Man Walking was written specially for her and she performed it at its world premiere, and she also has created roles in two other modern operas, An American Tragedy and The Great Gatsby. Considered an expert in French music, her performances and recordings of works by Berlioz, Ravel, and Gluck are universally hailed as thrilling, affecting and dazzling. Live From Lincoln Center is made possible by a major grant from MetLife. * Check local listings In addition to underwriting from MetLife, the series is also made possible with generous support from Thomas H. Lee and Ann Tenenbaum, the Robert Wood Johnson 1962 Charitable Trust, The Robert and Renée Belfer Family Foundation, The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation, Inc., The Irene Diamond Fund, Julien Studley, The Julien J. Studley Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Movado is an Official Sponsor of Lincoln Center, Inc. WNBC/WNJU are Official Broadcast Partners of Lincoln Center, Inc. MetLife is the National Sponsor of Lincoln Center, Inc. Live From Lincoln Center is a presentation of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. (LCPA). LCPA serves three primary roles: presenter of superb artistic programming, national leader in arts and education, and manager of the Lincoln Center campus. As a presenter of more than 400 events annually, LCPA's programs include American Songbook, Great Performers, Lincoln Center Festival, Lincoln Center Out of Doors, Midsummer Night Swing, the Mostly Mozart Festival, and Live From Lincoln Center. In addition, LCPA is leading a series of major capital projects on behalf of the resident organizations across the campus. For more information about Live From Lincoln Center, visit Lincoln Center's website at LincolnCenter.org.