To properly travel down the Road to Butterfly, we need to know the story of the opera. Here it is as told in the Puccini opera.
Act I
It is the early twentieth century. On a terrace above Nagasaki harbor in Japan, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton (tenor) tours a house he has leased from a marriage broker named Goro, who has also procured for Pinkerton a young geisha “wife” named Cio-Cio-San (soprano), also known as Madame Butterfly. The American counsel, Sharpless (baritone), arrives. Pinkerton reveals his carefree attitude towards the marriage: he is enchanted by Cio-Cio-San now but is glad his 999 year marriage contract contains a monthly renewal option. Sharpless warns Pinkerton that Butterfly may not take her vows so lightly, but Pinkerton ignores him saying he will one day marry a “real” American wife.
Cio-Cio-San enters surrounded by friends and tells Pinkerton that when her family fell on hard times she had to earn a living as a geisha. She also tells him of her intention to embrace the Christian faith. The Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San’s uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in and curses Butterfly for giving up her family’s religion. Pinkerton angrily sends the guests away. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, he comforts her, and she joins him in singing of their love for each other.
Act II
In Cio-Cio-San’s house, three years have passed since Pinkerton left, promising to return “when the robins nest in Spring.” When Suzuki (mezzo-soprano), the maid, shows her how little money is left, Cio-Cio-San urges her to have faith: one day Pinkerton’s ship will return. Sharpless brings a letter for Butterfly from Pinkerton, but before he can read it, Goro arrives with a new suitor, a wealthy prince. The girl dismisses both of them, insisting her American husband has not abandoned her.
When they are alone, Sharpless again starts to read the letter and suggests Pinkerton may not return. Cio-Cio-San will not hear of it. She shows him her little boy, Dolore (Trouble), saying that as soon as Pinkerton knows he has a son, he surely will come back and, if he does not, she would rather die than return to her former life. Moved by her devotion and his pity for her, Sharpless leaves without reading the rest of her letter.
Cio-Cio-San sees Pinkerton’s ship entering the harbor. Delirious with joy, she orders Suzuki to help her fill the house with flowers. As night falls, Cio-Cio-San, Suzuki and the child wait for Pinkerton.
Act III
When dawn breaks, Suzuki insists that Cio-Cio-San rest. Humming to her son, she carries him to another room. Before long, Sharpless arrives with Pinkerton and a woman, who turns out to be Kate (mezzo-soprano), Pinkerton’s new American wife. When Suzuki realizes who Kate is, she collapses in despair but agrees to help break the news to her mistress. Pinkerton, seized with remorse, rushes off. Cio-Cio-San comes out expecting to find Pinkerton, but finds Kate instead. She gradually comes to realize the truth and tells Kate she will give up her child if his father will return for him.
She sends Suzuki away and takes out the sword with which her father committed suicide. She reads the words inscribed on the sword, “To die with honor when one can no longer live with honor.” She bows before a statue of Buddha and raises the blade. Realizing what is about to happen, Suzuki pushes the child into the room hoping to avert disaster. Sobbing farewell, Cio-Cio-San blindfolds the boy and sends him behind a screen. She stabs herself and as she dies Pinkerton is heard calling her name.
The end.
So there we have Butterfly, one of the most tragic characters of all opera. Most opera heroines face death based on illness, fate or the hand of others. Here, the tragedy and sadness is heightened because Butterfly chooses her own death.
It does not help that she chooses to die over a first class cad like Pinkerton. He may be the prototype for the Ugly American. As Pinkerton sings in the Act I love duet with Butterfly, “don’t be afraid; love doesn’t kill.” Oh, yeah?
Regarding our trivia quiz, I am sad to announce that no one correctly identified Victoria de los Angeles as the soprano who recorded Madama Butterfly with the great tenor Jussi Bjoerling. If you are looking for a recording to preview the opera, in my view you cannot do better than this Bjoerling/de los Angeles CD.
And why not spend a little time with a recording before seeing the opera live. Going to opera without knowing the musical score is like going to a baseball game without knowing the infield fly rule.
If you don’t like de los Angeles, you might prefer the hot drama found in the Maria Callas recording of the opera featuring the La Scala Orchestra with Herbert von Karajan conducting.
Still others might opt for the Renata Scotto recording with the Italian tenor Carlo Bergonzi who always sings with a cry in his voice.
If you are looking for any of these recordings, visit Val’s Halla Records at Val’s new store on Harrison Street in Oak Park. Val will set you up.
New trivia question ?#34; put on those thinking caps ?#34; what is the name of Pinkerton’s ship in the opera?
Email your trivia answer to boxoffice@village-players.org. One entry per person. Previous winners should give someone else a chance. A drawing will be held of the correct answers and the winner will receive two tickets to Village Player’s Madama Butterfly.
Remember: Butterfly opens June 8 at Village Players Theatre in Oak Park. To purchase tickets visit village-players.org or call the box office at (866)764-1010.
