Madama Butterfly (Madam Butterfly) - Giacomo Puccini
Information about the opera Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini, and the best recordings available on CD or DVD, or for download.
Synopsis
The opera takes place in Nagasaki, Japan, in around 1904. Pinkerton, an American naval officer, has arranged a lease on a little house complete with a Japanese wife, the fifteen-year-old Butterfly, from Goro, a wedding arranger. When Sharpless, the American Consul, points out how vulnerable Butterfly is, Pinkerton cynically drinks to the American girl he hopes to marry some day. The wedding feast is disrupted by members of her family, who curse her for renouncing her gods, but after they leave, Pinkerton and Butterfly sing a passionate duet and prepare for their first night together.
Pinkerton leaves her when his ship is ordered home, but three years later Butterfly is waiting expectantly because his ship is due at Nagasaki. However, Sharpless had heard from Pinkerton that he is bringing with him an American wife. Not knowing of her husband's desertion, which automatically frees her, she threatens Goro with a dagger when he tries to remarry her to an aged prince.
Pinkerton arrives next day with his wife, but leaves it to Sharpless to break the news to Butterfly. She enters as Pinkerton's kindly wife is trying to persuade her maid Suzuki to surrender the child, whom she is eager to adopt. With the calmness of despair Butterfly blesses the rival who has asked her forgiveness, and promises to deliver her baby boy to his father in half an hour if he will call for him. Her visitors gone, she blindfolds the baby and puts an American flag into his hand, then kills herself with her father's sword of honor. Pinkerton enters and falls on his knees beside Butterfly as she dies, calling her name, but she just points to the baby waving his flag.
Recommended recordings on CD
Pappano/Gheorghiu/Kaufmann (EMI Classics 2 264 187-2)
Angela Gheorghiu gives a moving performance as Cio-Cio-San in this major new studio recording that ranks alongside the best of the classic performances. Winner of a 2009 Gramophone Magazine award.
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Chorus, Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra, conducted by Antonio Pappano, 2008.
Cast: Angela Gheorghiu (Madama Butterfly), Jonas Kaufmann (Pinkerton), Fabio Capitanucci (Sharpless), Enkelejda Shkosa (Suzuki).
EMI Classics 2 264 187-2
Rahbari/Gauci/Ramiro (Naxos 8.660910-12)
An Opera Plus version combining Madama Butterfly (c. Rahbari) with a commentary CD.
Bratislava Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Alexander Rahbari, 1991.
Cast: Miriam Gauci (Madama Butterfly), Yordi Ramiro (Pinkerton), Georg Tichy (Sharpless), Nelly Boschkowa (Suzuki).
Naxos 8.660910-12
Rahbari/Gauci/Ramiro (Naxos 8.660015-16)
A gentle performance, well recorded, and at a bargain price.
Bratislava Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra, Slovak State Philharmonic Chorus, conducted by Alexander Rahbari, 1991.
Cast: Miriam Gauci (Madama Butterfly), Yordi Ramiro (Pinkerton), Georg Tichy (Sharpless), Nelly Boschkowa (Suzuki).
Naxos 8.660015-16
Karajan/Freni/Pavarotti (Decca 417 577-2)
An opulent performance, with superb singing in the main roles.
Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Vienna State Opera Chorus, conducted by Herbert von Karajan, 1974.
Cast: Mirella Freni (Madama Butterfly), Luciano Pavarotti (Pinkerton), Robert Kerns (Sharpless), Christa Ludwig (Suzuki).
Decca 417 577-2
Also included in the boxed set:
Puccini: Pavarotti
Serafin/Tebaldi/Bergonzi (Decca 470 577-2)
The same recording as Madama Butterfly (c. Serafin) but at a lower price because the libretto is provided in electronic form on the CD.
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra, Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Chorus, conducted by Tullio Serafin, 1959.
Cast: Renata Tebaldi (Madama Butterfly), Carlo Bergonzi (Pinkerton), Enzo Sordello (Sharpless), Fiorenza Cossotto (Suzuki).
Decca 470 577-2
Serafin/Tebaldi/Bergonzi (Decca 452 594-2)
One of the classic recordings, with a wonderful performance in the leading role. Also available without a printed libretto as Madama Butterfly (c. Serafin).
Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Orchestra, Santa Cecilia Academy Rome Chorus, conducted by Tullio Serafin, 1959.
Cast: Renata Tebaldi (Madama Butterfly), Carlo Bergonzi (Pinkerton), Enzo Sordello (Sharpless), Fiorenza Cossotto (Suzuki).
Decca 452 594-2
Recommended recordings on DVD
Waart/Barker/Thompson (Opus Arte OA 0936 D)
A highly stylised production from 2003 in which the cast move like robots. The aim was to let Puccini's music speak for itself, but the result is very disconcerting and distracting.
Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra, Chorus of De Nederlandse Opera, conducted by Edo de Waart, 2003.
Cast: Cheryl Barker (Madama Butterfly), Martin Thompson (Pinkerton), Richard Stilwell (Sharpless), Catherine Keen (Suzuki).
Opus Arte OA 0936 D
Conlon/Huang/Troxell (Sony Classical CDR 24673)
This 1995 film version has fine acting and singing, and the locations are superb.
Orchestre de Paris, Radio France Chorus, conducted by James Conlon, 1995.
Cast: Ying Huang (Madama Butterfly), Richard Troxell (Pinkerton), Richard Cowan (Sharpless), Ning Liang (Suzuki).
Sony Classical CDR 24673