Seattle-based tenor Vinson Cole sang a honey-voiced Pinkerton in the company’s only production of Puccini’s masterpiece during the 1990s.

Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San), Kathleen Hegierski (Suzuki), and Brent Ellis (Sharpless) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Brent Ellis (Sharpless), Vinson Cole (Pinkerton), and Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San) and Vinson Cole (Pinkerton) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Gabriella Schwarz (Trouble) and Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San), Ellen McLain (Kate Pinkerton), and Brent Ellis (Sharpless) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith

Kathleen Hegierski (Suzuki), Elena Filipova (Cio-Cio-San), Barry Johnson (Yamadori), and Steven Cole (Goro) in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, 1995 © Gary Smith