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Scene from: Madama Butterfly

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Conductor: Maurizio Arena

Giacomo Puccini was so convinced of the artistic merit of this, his favourite opera -"the most deeply-felt and imaginative opera I have conceived" - that he revised it extensively after a bad opening in 1904. This version, which is so popular today, was conducted by Toscanini at Brescia in May of the same year and was a magnificent success.
Puccini was drawn to the American playwright David Belasco's true and tragic love story. He was fascinated by the exotic Japanese ambience and by the character and fate of the geisha girl, Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly, sung by Raina Kabaivanska) who falls in love with an American naval lieutenant, B F Pinkerton. In collaboration with Giacosa and Illica (the librettists of La Bohème and Tosca) Puccini produced his most original score up to that time.
Puccini's heroine, love-stricken, young, beautiful and defenceless, is portrayed with music of great subtlety and refinement. His innovative use of harmonically bold instrumental effect heightens the Japanese context of the play, but the character of the music is, nevertheless, unmistakably Puccinian. The Arena di Verona provides the ideal setting which contrasts the elegant white and blue costumes of the protagonists with the exotic trees and flowers of the Japanese garden.
Maurizio Arena conducts the Orchestra & Chorus of the Arena di Verona. Filmed in 1983.

Cast: Madama Butterfly - Raina Kabaivanska, B F Pinkerton - Nazzareno Antinori, Suzuki - Eleonora Jankovic, Sharpless - Lorenzo Saccomani.

Catalogue: 4509992202

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  • hybo
    Madame Butterfly, my all time favourite.     10.Nov.2008 14:07

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