#Puccini opera madame butterfly cracked#

Diego Torre, known for possessing a powerful Italianate voice, cracked a high B flat and lost his voice almost completely, forcing Pinkerton's young bride (soprano Sae-Kyung Rim) to sing the heart-warming love duet at the end of Act 1 practically by herself. The performance got off to a difficult start. The innovative ideas keep coming but they appear to be uneven. Bright colours mostly appear with the huge US flags projected onto the screens, in predictable golden hues representing Yamadori’s wealth, when spring is evoked by Cio-Cio-San and Suzuki “blowing” pink paint from spraying cans, filling the screens, or with the Japanese ladies’ “school-girl fantasy” greeting of the incoming American soldiers, reminiscent of cheap X-rated magazine images. Then, however, catharsis is stifled as Cio-Cio-San commits her honourable suicide bloodless and on the back of her neck, while Pinkerton watches it haplessly from a few metres away.Įlsewhere, domestic life on stage is shown mostly in shades of bleak black and white. A thinner version of the red rope later returns as part of Butterfly’s spider net-like bridal veil, suggesting no good future for the marriage and again in the final scene, when the ceremonial knife is lowered with it from the ceiling.

Part of his inventive concept serves the production brilliantly, such as the opening tableau with its striking red rope bondage scene, also subtly hinting at the unbreakable bond, Cio-Cio-San’s loyal love to Pinkerton (a sentiment he does not share). After minor adjustments, the second debut in Brescia on went without a hitch and established Madama Butterfly as one of the most creative and moving dramatic operas of all time.Murphy’s stage works never fail to captivate. The end result was another prime example of Puccini’s opera vera in the composer’s best traditions.ĭespite all the hard work, Madama Butterfly’s premiere on 17 February 1904 at Milan’s La Scala was a flop, an unpleasant surprise that Puccini suspected was the work of rivals. Illica even made a trip to Japan to get first-hand impressions of the land and its customs and to incorporate them in the text and stage design. Librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa also invested considerable efforts in research. Cio-Cio-San’s stunning aria ‘Un bel di vedremo’ is among the most emotional, tender, and beautiful soprano melodies in the operatic catalogue, and is sure to bring a tear to your eye. The result is a extraordinarily atmospheric operatic score, rich with musical references and unique thematic characterization. Puccini took his first venture in the Far East seriously and conducted extensive research into Japanese folk music as well as American military marches and army songs. The young woman’s fragile world collapses and, bereft of all her love and hope, she takes her own life. Cold to Cio-Cio-San’s feelings, he simply wants to take his son away. Three years on, Lieutenant Pinkerton comes back indeed, along with his new American wife. In his absence, she gives birth to his son and spends her days lovingly hoping and waiting for his return. Soon enough, the bored Pinkerton leaves his pretty Japanese butterfly. While she loves him with all her heart, he views her as an exotic conquest, pleasant but ultimately insignificant. Puccini’s Madama Butterfly tells the sad love story of Cio-Cio-San, a Japanese woman, and Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer. This season, it comes to the Gran Teatro La Fenice in Venice in all its glory. Although he spoke no English, Puccini sensed the gripping drama of the performance, and it moved him to create one of his signature tragic operas. By chance, the Maestro was at a theatre performance in London, and David Belasco’s Madame Butterfly was playing that night. When Giacomo Puccini first encountered Cio-Cio-San, his future heroine, he was completely enthralled by her, although he did not understand a word she said.

Puccini opera madame butterfly