Madama Butterfly Study Guide
- Plot Summary. The opera begins as Lieutenant Benjamin Pinkerton of the United States Navy inspects the house he recently rented in Nagasaki, Japan.
- Major Characters
- Major Themes. ...
- Historical Context. ...
- Key Arias. ...
What is the story behind Madame Butterfly?
Ever with her eye toward the harbor, Butterfly holds a secret delight that she eagerly wishes to surprise her husband with: their son. Pinkerton arrives in Japan with his American bride by his side. He goes to Butterfly to make his apologies and to finally end what Butterfly for three years has cherished in her heart.
What is the storyline of Madame Butterfly?
Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, a young U.S. Navy lieutenant, has arranged with Goro, a marriage broker, to acquire a fifteen-year-old Japanese bride, Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly). Pinkerton takes a 999-year lease on a home overlooking Nagasaki harbor; this lease, as well as his marriage, can conveniently be canceled on a month's notice.
Who are the characters in Madame Butterfly opera?
It tells the story of a doomed love of a Japanese woman, “Butterfly,” for a US naval officer who marries and deserts her. The narrative is based on the 1898 short story “Madame Butterfly” by John Luther Long, which itself was based on the 1887 semi-autobiographical novel Madame Chrysanthème by French writer Pierre Loti. Puccini wrote five versions of the opera, which was …
Is Madame Butterfly an opera?
What is the plot of Madame Butterfly? Madame Butterfly Summary. It is 1904, and a handsome American Naval officer rents a house on a hill overlooking the city of Nagasaki. John Pinkerton is purchasing the house for himself and his fiancé Butterfly. She is just fifteen years old and is a local girl. Click to see full answer.
What is the main theme of Madame Butterfly?
Is Madame Butterfly a tragedy?
Puccini is one of the best-known and most successful Italian composers, thanks to operas such as La bohème, Tosca, Manon Lescaut, and Madam Butterfly (Madama Butterfly in Italian).
What is the setting of Madama Butterfly?
What does Madame Butterfly represent?
Is Madame Butterfly a true story?
Was Madame Butterfly a man?
What happens in the end of Madame Butterfly?
Do you think this opera Madame Butterfly is worth watching why?
Who are the characters and their role in the story of Madame Butterfly?
What are the arias from Madame Butterfly?
What is the voice of Madame Butterfly?
| Role | Voice type | Premiere cast, 17 February 1904 Conductor: Cleofonte Campanini |
|---|---|---|
| The cousin | soprano | Palmira Maggi |
| Kate Pinkerton | mezzo-soprano | Margherita Manfredi |
| Dolore ("Sorrow"), Cio-Cio-san's child | silent | Ersilia Ghissoni |
| Cio-Cio-san's relatives and friends and servants | ||
Who is Butterfly's maid?
Who played Madame Butterfly?
Long's version was dramatized by David Belasco as the one-act play Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan, which, after premiering in New York in 1900, moved to London, where Puccini saw it in the summer of that year.
Where was Madame Butterfly filmed?
The film was shot in Technicolor at Cinecittà in Rome, Italy.
Who wrote the opera Madama Butterfly?
For other uses, see Madame Butterfly (disambiguation). Madama Butterfly ( IPA: [maˈdaːma ˈbatterflai]; Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa . It is based on the short story " Madame Butterfly ...
Where did Pinkerton and Butterfly live?
In 1904, a U.S. naval officer named Pinkerton rents a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, for himself and his soon-to-be wife, "Butterfly". Her real name is Cio-Cio-san (from the Japanese word for "butterfly" (蝶々, chōchō, pronounced [tɕoꜜːtɕoː]); -san is a plain honorific ). She is a 15-year-old Japanese girl whom he is marrying for convenience, and he intends to leave her once he finds a proper American wife, since Japanese divorce laws are very lax. The wedding is to take place at the house. Butterfly had been so excited to marry an American that she had earlier secretly converted to Christianity. After the wedding ceremony, her uninvited uncle, a bonze, who has found out about her conversion, comes to the house, curses her and orders all the guests to leave, which they do while renouncing her. Pinkerton and Butterfly sing a love duet and prepare to spend their first night together.
How many tracks are in the opera synopsis?
This is a synopsis of the standard version of the opera, with its arias, duets, trios, choruses, etc. The synopsis is organized into the 34 tracks that constitute most recordings.
How many versions of the opera did Puccini write?
Puccini wrote five versions of the opera. The original two-act version, which was presented at the world premiere at La Scala on 17 February 1904, was withdrawn after the disastrous premiere. Puccini then substantially rewrote it, this time in three acts. This second version was performed on 28 May 1904 in Brescia, where it was a great success, with Solomiya Krushelnytska as Cio-Cio-san. It was this second version that premiered in the United States in 1906, first in Washington, D.C., in October, and then in New York in November, performed by Henry Savage 's New English Opera Company (so named because it performed in English-language translations).
What is the story of Madame Butterfly based on?
The narrative is based on the 1898 short story “Madame Butterfly” by John Luther Long, which itself was based on the 1887 semi-autobiographical novel Madame Chrysanthème by French writer Pierre Loti. Puccini wrote five versions of the opera, which was originally in two acts, not three. The fifth version, completed in 1907, ...
What is the story of Butterfly?
It tells the story of a doomed love of a Japanese woman, “Butterfly,” for a US naval officer who marries and deserts her . The narrative is based on the 1898 short story “Madame Butterfly” by John Luther Long, which itself was based on the 1887 semi-autobiographical novel Madame Chrysanthème by French writer Pierre Loti.
When was Madame Butterfly written?
Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly – Madama Butterfly in Italian – is a three-act opera that first premiered in Milan in 1904. The Italian libretto was written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It tells the story of a doomed love of a Japanese woman, “Butterfly,” for a US naval officer who marries and deserts her.
Who wrote the play Madame Butterfly?
The stage play was written by American playwright David Belasco. Belasco based his play on a short story, ' Madame Butterfly ' (1898) by the American lawyer and author John Luther Long. This story itself was based loosely on an 1887 novel by French naval officer and author Pierre Loti, entitled Madame Chrysanthème.
Who is the American naval officer in Madame Butterfly?
Madame Butterfly begins with American naval officer Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton at the dock in Nagasaki, having just arrived. His friend, Sayre, suggests that he get a Japanese wife, which Pinkerton at first rejects. Soon, however, Pinkerton has found a geisha for a wife and supplies her with a house and a maid.
Who is Pinkerton's friend?
His friend, Sayre, suggests that he get a Japanese wife, which Pinkerton at first rejects. Soon, however, Pinkerton has found a geisha for a wife and supplies her with a house and a maid. Cho-Cho-San, Pinkerton's wife, attempts to understand her new husband and his American ways.
When did Japan open to the world?
Japan, fiercely isolationist for centuries, had only opened to the Western world in the 1850s. Americans were fascinated by Japan and the perceived exoticness of Japanese culture. The short story became widely popular, and demonstrates an intriguing look into Japanese and American interactions at the turn of the century.
Who is Madame Butterfly?
He has procured the house for himself and his new Japanese fiancé, a 15-year-old girl known as Madame Butterfly. Because Japanese marriage laws are relatively lax, Pinkerton plans to marry his bride ...
Where did Pinkerton live in 1904?
In 1904 an American naval officer, Pinkerton, rents a house on a hill overlooking the city of Nagasaki. He has procured the house for himself and his new Japanese fiancé, a 15-year-old girl known as Madame Butterfly.
Overview
Further reading
• Burke-Gaffney, Brian, Starcrossed: A Biography of Madame Butterfly, EastBridge, 2004 ISBN 1-891936-48-4.
• Groos, Arthur, "Madame Butterfly: The Story", Cambridge Opera Journal, vol. 3, no. 2 (July 1991)
• Melitz, Leo, The Opera Goer's Complete Guide, 1921 version, source of the plot.
Versions
Puccini wrote five versions of the opera. The original two-act version, which was presented at the world premiere at La Scala on 17 February 1904, was withdrawn after the disastrous premiere. Puccini then substantially rewrote it, this time in three acts. This second version was performed on 28 May 1904 in Brescia, where it was a great success, with Solomiya Krushelnytskaas Cio-Cio-san. It was this second version that premiered in the United States in 1906, first in Washington, …
Performance history
Premieres of the standard version in major opera houses throughout the world include those in the Teatro de la Opera de Buenos Aires on 2 July 1904, under Arturo Toscanini, this being the first performance in the world outside Italy. Its first performance in Britain was in London on 10 July 1905 at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, while the first US performance was presented in English on 15 October 1906, in Washington, D.C., at the Columbia Theater. The first performanc…
Synopsis
Time: 1904. Place: Nagasaki, Japan.
In 1904, a U.S. naval officer named Pinkerton rents a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, for himself and his soon-to-be wife, "Butterfly". Her real name is Cio-Cio-san (from the Japanese word for "butterfly" (蝶々, chōchō, pronounced [tɕoꜜːtɕoː]); -san is a plain honorific). She is a 15-year-old Japanese girl whom he is marrying for convenience, and he intends to leave her once he finds a …
Synopsis (musical numbers)
This is a synopsis of the standard version of the opera, with its arias, duets, trios, choruses, etc. The synopsis is organized into the 34 tracks that constitute most recordings.
1. A short orchestral prelude with a busy, fugal opening theme, followed by a second theme of more overtly Japanese character, leads straight into the opening scene.
2. E soffitto e pareti ("And ceiling and walls"). Pinkerton and Goro are inspecting a small house w…
Instrumentation
Madama Butterfly is scored for three flutes (the third doubling piccolo); two oboes, one English horn; two clarinets in B-flat; one bass clarinet in B-flat, two bassoons; four French horns in F; three trumpets in F; three tenor trombones; one bass trombone; a percussion section with timpani, cymbals, one triangle, one snare drum, one bass drum, bells, one tam-tam, one Japanese gong, and one set of 4 "Japanese Bells"; one keyboard glockenspiel; one onstage "little bell"; onstage tubular bells; one o…
Reception
In its initial form, the opera was not well received. The premier in Milan was a fiasco, as Puccini's sister, Ramelde, wrote in a letter to her husband:
"At two o'clock we went to bed and I can't sleep one bit; and to say that we were all so sure! Giacomo, poor thing, we never saw him because we couldn't go on the stage. We got to the end of it and I don't know how. The second act I didn't hear at all, and before the opera was over, we ra…