Opera "Madame Butterfly" was created by the famous Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini based on the eponymous work by David Belasco. This creation captivates with the beauty of vocal art, the ingenious music of Puccini and a wonderful dramatic plot. Until now, opera is one of the most performed works in the whole world.
About the work
Giacomo Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly was created in 1903 in three (first in two) acts on the libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illiki. The play by David Belasco, based on which the opera was written, is a revised story of the American fiction writer John Luther Long, "Madame Butterfly." John Luther Long, in turn, before writing the story was inspired by the work of the French writer Pierre Loti "Madame Chrysanthemum."
The work of Giacomo Puccini "Madame Butterfly" has an unusual story. February 17, 1904 at the premiere of the opera, a tremendous failure occurred. Puccini, who had already written Manon Lesko, Bohemia and Tosca, was at the peak of his popularity. Therefore, all the main participants of the opera and the composer himself did not doubt the successful premiere of the play.
After the first act of the opera was presented to the public, performed by the beautiful Rosina Storkio, deathly silence fell in the hall. Then discontented cries were heard: "This is from Bohemia … Let's get something new!" After the end of the first action, a whistle and obscene cries were heard. The premiere of the opera completely failed.
After the unsuccessful premiere of the play, the upset Puccini took the score and made many changes in it, the main of which was the division of the protracted second act into two parts. Three months later, a new variation of the opera was presented in the city of Brescia at the Grande Theater.
The modified opera received a tremendous sensation. After the first act, the audience encore the composer along with the singers. Since then, the opera Madame Butterfly has always been performed with triumphal success.
In the music of the opera "Cio-Cio-san" Puccini used some Japanese melodies that harmoniously entered the musical lyrical tragedy, fully revealing the dramatic image of the main character. The special attractive power of the composer's music allows the listener to penetrate and understand the extraordinary beauty of Japanese culture.
Summary of action I
The performance takes place in the Japanese city of Nagasaki at the end of the 19th century.
Lieutenant Franklin Benjamin Pinkerton, a U.S. Navy officer, is about to marry a young Japanese geisha Chio-Cio-San, nicknamed Butterfly (translated from English - butterfly).
Japanese real estate salesman, broker Goro, demonstrates to Lieutenant Pinkerton a beautiful house with a garden, standing at the foot of a hill near Nagasaki. In this rented house, future spouses are going to marry according to Japanese traditions and spend a honeymoon.
Pinkerton's friend, the American consul, Mr. Sharpless, comes to the wedding ceremony. Pinkerton confesses to Sharpless in his frivolous plans for the future. He intends to marry a Japanese woman, Cio-Cio-San, but in America this marriage will not have legal force. This marital agreement may be terminated at any time. Therefore, this fact gives him the opportunity to marry an American. Sharpless reproaches Pinkerton: for a young Japanese woman is so pure and innocent, how can a lieutenant do this to her?
The beautiful Chio-Cio-San, surrounded by geishas, appears on the scene. Consul Sharpless admires her beauty and asks about age. Cio-Cio-San replies that she is only fifteen years old. She talks about her past life: the girl grew up in poverty, she does not have a father, her mother raised her. The young bride also confesses her love to Pinkerton and declares her decision to renounce the Japanese faith and convert to Christianity.
During the wedding ceremony, uncle Butterfly, a Japanese bonza, appears. Upon learning of his faith’s niece's betrayal, he curses Chio-Cio-San, as well as her marriage to an American. Having become the legal spouse, Lieutenant Pinkerton, orders the guests to leave in order to remain alone with his wife.
Summary of action II
Three years passed. After the marriage, Pinkerton left for America, and Cio-Cio-San was left to wait for him. The naive Butterfly believed that her beloved husband would be back soon. Left by her husband and relatives, Cio-Cio-San lives with Suzuki's maid and a small son, whose presence the lieutenant does not know. The devoted Suzuki tried to convince her mistress, but Cio-Cio-San was adamant in her faith and love for Pinkerton. Suzuki said the funds left by the lieutenant were almost over. Cio-Cio-San burst into tears and became frightened, because if her husband does not return soon, then she will again have to return to the craft of a geisha to feed herself and her son.
The consul Sharpless and the broker Goro appear on the scene. Goro came with Prince Yamadori, who had long wanted to marry Butterfly. She politely but firmly rejects the offer of the prince. Consul Sharpless received a letter from Pinkerton, in which he reports that he will soon arrive in Japan, but not alone, but with his American wife. He is reading a letter from the lieutenant. Cio-Cio-San is very happy that her beloved has let herself know and is returning. Sharpless tells Butterfly that Pinkerton is no longer her husband, but she does not believe her and shows her son’s consul.
A shot from a cannon sounds, indicating that a ship is entering the harbor. Butterfly runs out onto the terrace and carefully looks into the spyglass. She sees that this is the ship of her beloved husband. Cio-Cio-San orders to decorate the house with flowers. Night comes, everyone falls asleep. Only Butterfly languishes in anticipation of her husband, dressing in the dress in which she was at her wedding.
