Madama Butterfly: What makes it such a powerful opera? (The Royal Opera)

Antonio Pappano, Ermonela members and other performers and creatives from The Royal Opera reveal the secrets of Madama Butterfly's success. Find out more at www.roh.org.uk
Giacomo Puccini was entranced by David Belasco’s play Madame Butterfly (based on a popular short story by John Luther Long) when he saw it in London in 1900. He harnessed the talents of librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa (with whom Puccini had created La bohème and Tosca) to adapt Cio-Cio-San’s tragic tale for the operatic stage. Although the premiere at La Scala, Milan, in 1904 was poorly received, that same year Puccini revised and restaged the opera for performances in Brescia, to great acclaim. Madama Butterfly quickly became a hugely popular opera with performers and audiences alike, and remains one of Puccini’s most performed works.
Puccini drew on Japanese folk melodies for the score, one of his most evocative and atmospheric. In Act I, Cio-Cio-San expresses her radiant happiness in ‘Ancora un passo’, and the two lovers rapturously declare their love for each other in the passionate duet ‘Viene la sera’. In Act II the mood becomes increasingly strained, as in ‘Un bel dì vedremo’ when Cio-Cio-San longs for the ‘fine day’ when her husband will return to her. The romantic exoticism of 19th-century European images of Japan - an integral part of Madama Butterfly’s character - inspire Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s elegant production for The Royal Opera.

[@melfry]

It's so heartbreaking because you know Mr Pinkerton's intentions from the start. Knowing that and seeing Cio-Cio's sacrafices and loyalty... it just hurts so much... she gets no justice or reward.

[@slimfast67]

Madame Butterfly is a strong story about imperialism, on a broader scale. But on the personal scale it’s very much about a young woman, who is seduced, betrayed and gets her heart broken by a heartless coward

[@mpalmer7800]

slimfast67 well said!!!!

[@odn4502]

'groomed' may be a better word for it

[@ginobramieri1007]

I saw this and cried almost from start to finish

[@Mscoloraturakae]

If you don't cry during Butterfly, you have no soul.

[@paulstoten607]

Her betrayal is the sadest thing I have ever known.

[@crcanassr]

But why there is no discussion over the overt racism, sexism and imperialism permeating the opera? Yes I love the opera, but it seems to me that Puccini also sends us a message and wants us to think about the story and the causes of its tragedy.

[@pedinurse1]

He "fell in Love"

[@richardtanner636]

A really fine opera amidst racism, sexism, and imperialism. A love story for the ages, that is also ABOUT racism, sexism, and imperialism. It's hard to think of any really really fine art that does not tickle our fancy as well as our buttons.

[@eugeneanikienko9760]

Can we ever let go of politics even for a moment? I, for one, am sick of the power struggle in this world of sin and evil. There are better things for those who will have them. Too bad so few will partake of the truth. There is so much available to those that will believe. I pray every day with the Holy Spirit to the Eternal Father through my Lord and Savior Jesus for the redemption of many many of those that will believe.

[@buenvendor]

First time I saw a full opera was this one in 1991. Since then, I must have seen it more than 10 times with my favourite being the MET production in 2016 with Alagna as Pinkerton and Kristine (oh my God) Opolais. She is the best living Butterfly these days.

[@jamikatro4400]

I watched Madama Butterfly from Bielefeld in Germany. Thank you for this amazing performance😍

[@joymonte5471]

For me Madama Butterfly is the most tragic opera not because she gave up her traditions and people for the sake of love.Not because she was betrayed.But because life put her in a position where she Had to say goodbye to her child. There is not more powerful bond than the maternal love and the fact that she would never see her child again means she was already dead. I can't hold my tears when i experience the finale of Butterfly! So tragic but so true for the time.

[@berkshhome8990]

Beautiful voice . Great performance x

[@daughterofthesun913]

Ermonela Jaho is so amazing diva! Puccini's Great Work find an wonderful twin at Pappano and Ermonela!!!

[@TeachUBusiness]

This looks superb! So happy to this presented as intended. Ermonela is beautiful.

[@mazplod1]

Watched this production in Malta. Awesome performance by Ermonella Jaho as Madame Butterfly. Disappointed at Marcello Puente's Pinkerton who seemed at times to have more of a baritone timbre than a tenor. All in all Ermonella Jaho made it worthwhile...well done to all concerned and Maestro Pappano in particular for this production.

[@dcossi1]

They showed this in the cinema tonight . Also funny at the curtain call .Ermonela Jaho kissed Sorrow on the cheek and he was not too pleased and he tried to wipe the lipstick or whatever off with his shoulder. Great show .

[@mazplod1]

Noticed that at the time as well and brought a smile to my face :-)

[@cassandre6656]

bravo à Ermon,ela JAHO pour son interprétation d'une grande sensibilité

[@MrSakoolig]

My favorite Opera

[@SteveL2012]

Ermonela is just gorgeous.

[@talitasofijakomelj9730]

Wow! Great!

[@winonadaphne6445]

at least in australia, we have actual asian performers playing butterfly

[@l.e1847]

Give us a break !

[@foxycognition3600]

@@l.e1847 LMAOOO

[@bunnybird9342]

Because it's Britain lol

[@LuizFelipe-lk1hs]

Zhang Liping was amazing when she did her.

[@dcossi1]

I think I saw her in the cinema ,it was 3D performance and I agree she was great ,and also the music that night was fantastic . All of us there were in tears prob 30 mins from the end.

[@charliebarber7682]

Does anybody know where I can buy a DVD of this particular production, or stream it? I can't seem to find it on the ROH website.

[@theovlach]

Amazon has it.

[@Charlotte-iu8he]

thanks

[@isabelmosteiromartinez477]

La vi. Enoooorme Ermonela Jaho. Hace suyo el papel de Butterfly. Una pasada

[@domenicgattellaro3708]

Madama butterfly is the most beautiful love story

[@AliceSant195]

Y la más trágica.

[@claird4307]

I would of loved to have seen this with callas.

[@yuehchopin]

danke

[@igiulful]

Allestimento pulito, super fedele, semplice: c'è tutto secondo il libretto ( dal whisky, alla fronda di ciliegio, al papavero rosso, al bimbo che gioca con la bandierina USA, mancano solo i 'forellini' nello shosi...). Dopo aver fatto harakiri, Butterfly, all'ascolto del richiamo di Pinkerton, cerca di andargli incontro con movimento di farfalla ferita: un'immagine molto poetica e drammatica. La Jaho ce la mette tutta, pur non avendo una voce potente. Puente (tenore argentino in ascesa) è molto più valido qui che non nell'allestimento di Bruxelles, con apprezzabile gestualità ed espressioni del viso. Hendricks è improponibile (vedere anche la pessima interpretazione di Macbeth a Bruxelles). Pappano è un eccellente routinier.

[@jonpaddick1295]

Will this production be released on DVD? I loved the 2005 production with Cristina Gallardo-Domas but, sadly, it's not available.

[@mazgolightly]

This is a wonderful version www.amazon.co.uk/Madama-Butterfly-Wiener-Staatsoper-Karajan/dp/B0007P0LO8/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1522310569&sr=8-3&keywords=madame+butterfly+dvd

[@jezebel324]

....her tribe?

[@tadd8210]

Sad story

[@JM-dl2qo]

Kaya manga Bidadari Merah karya Suzue Miuchi

[@mstarwitness]

Madame butterfly

[@Itsme-bv1pr]

Anime got me here Wtf? Loved it doe

[@slimfast67]

How?

[@user-pr8oo4vt7v]

Im here because of module

[@scharnhorstkaisarbeethoven]

I wish I could understand Italian

[@lindacowles756]

Could the makeup artist have made Ms. Jaho look more Japanese? She has very striking features which I would like to have seen enhanced more in the Oriental way.

[@bunnybird9342]

So you want actual yellowface?

[@lindacowles756]

@@bunnybird9342 Probably not yellow. I'm thinking more the white makeup used by geishas.

[@dinah1318]

@@lindacowles756 In her performance on the dvd she has the white makeup, combined with a light pink eyeshadow. (no exaggerated eyeliner thankfully, although they did still do that with the supporting cast.) For some reason that doesn't seem to be worn here, even in the footage of what I assume to be the dress rehearsal.

[@pedinurse1]

This situation happens in every country throughout the beginning of time, its about man wanting a woman that is different, I dont believe its about colonialism, he didnt rape her, she gave herself to him, he never intended to be faithful, that is the problem. He could have taken her her and the child home.

[@annebarslev7312]

I would love to see Butterfly directed by a woman. A woman who does not victimize Butterfly… A director who does not villainize men, and paints women as defenceless victims. The opera is not about the clash of foreign cultures, it’s about the clash between men and women. It’s what happens on Tinder, what happens when you marry at first sight. When you think you don’t need to make an effort, when you are so far your own ass. Your own unrealistic ideas about what true love is, that has nothing to do with the person in front of you. About aaaaaall the women, who thinks they need a man to break free, low self esteem and being hell-bent on not admitting to a mistake. It would be such a welcome change to not have a bunch of well meaning middle aged men, telling me what a young girl thinks…

[@lefinlay]

But… this STORY is about a hateful man who wilfully seduced and betrayed a naive child, who was left heartbroken. It isn’t supposed to mirror society especially - although many people have been betrayed of course.

[@khaledgueddim7807]

Well, unfortunately for you it was composed by one of those middle aged men...

[@r.subiksha2924]

Who came here after watching girlfriend cdrama🙋

[@laurenth7187]

Well, nothing. should never had been written.

[@avayu2289]

This is like the worst and most sad storyline ever. At least the music was good. Why do we “celebrate” tragedies…..ugh!!!!!!

[@morisoba2550]

Some people call the story of "Madama Butterfly" beautiful, but it's a genuinely ugly, sexist and racist story. But I love the music though.

[@RoyalOperaHouse]

Is it sexist and racist? I would say Puccini expects us to sympathize with Cio-Cio-San rather than Pinkerton. Pinkerton certainly is sexist and racist - but does that make the opera those things too?

[@morisoba2550]

Beethoven criticized that Mozart wasted his precious musical talent for shit story of Don Giovanni and Cosi Fan Tutte even Beethoven loved Mozart's music more than anybody. Music of Madama Butterfly is so beautiful but I have to admit that the story of Madama Butterfly is ugly. In today's ethic standard it's not tolerable when the guy cheats foreign teenager and takes out her new born son which makes her kill herself. The story is a such kind. Sympathizing with Cio-Cio-San doesn't justify the story itself. In Japan we have drama version of Cio-Cio-San and can understand that Pinkerton wants Nagasaki wife and know from the day 1 that he will dump her some day. Goro is actually a procurer selling her. She choose to die for the pride of the daughter of Samurai. I'm not saying we should downgrade this masterpiece opera by Puccini but people need to understand that the story is ugly, not beautiful. And Miss Saigon is also an ugly, sexist and racist story. www.thedailybeast.com/sexism-race-and-the-mess-of-miss-saigon-on-broadway

[@boyanghu8730]

Very right. The stories are ugly. But all we should appreciate is the music.

[@crcanassr]

But music is not everything and perhaps Puccini wanted us to think beyond music, just like Beethoven and his Ode to Joy.

[@Homoclassicus]

Nobody thinks the story of Madama Butterfly is beautiful. Very moving, yes, but not "beautiful". It's a sad tragedy caused by ugly, insensible people abusing a foreign woman. But THAT has nothing to do with the work. Operas aren't naive, harmless fables for children. The opera is wonderful, the music is most beautiful, and the drama is perfectly served by the lyrics and the music - and it is perhaps even greater because it explores and depicts, in an artistic way, the "ugly, sexist and racist" stories that were happening then and are still happening now. I think you're confusing the artwork with the object that it analyzed or portrayed in it.