Madama Butterfly

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Giacomo Puccini Operas[show ! " #Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera in three acts (ori$inally two acts) %y Giacomo Puccini, with an &talian li%retto %y 'ui$i &llica andGiuseppe Giacosa( "he li%retto of the opera is %ased in part on the short story )Madame Butterfly) (*+,+) %y -ohn 'uther 'on$ . which in turn was %ased partially on stories told to 'on$ %y his sister -ennie /orrell and partially on the semi0auto$raphical *++1 French no2el Madame Chrysanthme%y Pierre 'oti([* [3 [4 'on$5s short story was dramati6ed %y 7a2id Belasco as a one0act play, Madame Butterfly: A ragedy of !a"an (*,88)( 9fter premierin$ in :ew ;ork, Belasco5s play mo2ed to 'ondon, where Puccini saw it in the summer of *,88( [< "he ori$inal 2ersion of the opera, in two acts, had its premiere on *1 Fe%ruary *,8< at 'a =cala in Milan( &t was 2ery poorly recei2ed despite the presence of such nota%le sin$ers as soprano Rosina =torchio, tenor Gio2anni >enatello and %aritone Giuseppe 7e 'uca in the lead roles( "his was due in lar$e part to the late completion and inade?uate time for rehearsals( Puccini re2ised the opera, splittin$ the second act into two acts and makin$ other chan$es( @n May 3+, *,8<, this 2ersion was performed in Brescia and was a hu$e success( Between *,*A and *,38, -apan5s %est0known opera sin$er "amaki Miura won international fame for her performances as /io0/io =an( Ber statue, alon$ with that of Puccini, can %e found in the Glo2er Garden in :a$asaki, the city where the opera is set( Madama Butterfly is a staple of the standard operatic repertoire for companies around the world, rankin$ 1th in the @pera%ase list of the most0performed operas worldwide([A
Contents
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* Production history 3 Performance history 4 Roles < =ynopsis <(* 9ct * <(3 9ct 3 <(4 9ct 4 A =ynopsis (musical num%ers) A(* 9ct * A(3 9ct 3

A(4 9ct 4 C Recordin$s 1 9daptations + References , #Dternal links

Production history edit

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Geraldine Farrar as Madama Butterfly, *,81 Puccini wrote fi2e 2ersions of the opera( "he ori$inal 2ersion[C was in two acts and had its premiere on Fe%ruary *1, *,8<, at 'a =cala in Milan( 9fter this disastrous premiere, Puccini withdrew the opera and su%stantially rewrote it, this time in three acts( "his second 2ersion[1 was performed on 3+ May *,8< in Brescia, where it was a $reat success( &t was this second 2ersion that premiered in the Enited =tates in *,8C, first in Washin$ton, 7(/(, in @cto%er, and then in :ew ;ork in :o2em%er, performed %y Benry =a2a$e5s :ew #n$lish @pera /ompany (so named %ecause it performed in #n$lish0 lan$ua$e translations)( &n *,8C, Puccini wrote a third 2ersion,[+ which was performed at the Metropolitan @pera in :ew ;ork( &n *,81, Puccini made se2eral chan$es in the orchestral and 2ocal scores, and this %ecame the fourth 2ersion,[, which was performed in Paris( &n *,81, Puccini made his final re2isions to the opera in a fifth 2ersion,[*8 which has %ecome known as the )standard 2ersion)( "oday, the standard 2ersion of the opera is the 2ersion most often performed around the world( Bowe2er, the ori$inal *,8< 2ersion is occasionally performed as well(

Performance history edit

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Premieres of the standard 2ersion in maFor opera houses throu$hout the world include those in Buenos 9ires on 3 -uly *,8<, this %ein$ the first performance in 9r$entina( &ts first performance in Britain was in 'ondon on *8 -uly *,8A at the Royal @pera Bouse, /o2ent Garden, while the first E= performance was presented in #n$lish on @cto%er *A, *,8C, in Washin$ton, 7(/(, at the /olum%ia "heater( "he first performance in :ew ;ork took place on *3 :o2em%er of the same year at the Garden "heater([** "he Metropolitan @pera first performed the work on Fe%ruary **, *,81 in the presence of the composer with Geraldine Farrar as /io0/io =an, #nrico /aruso as Pinkerton, 'ouise Bomer as =u6uki, 9ntonio =cottias =harpless, and 9rturo !i$na conductin$( "hree years later, the first 9ustralian performance was presented at the "heatre Royal in =ydney on 3C March *,*8, starrin$ 9my /astles(

Roles edit
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Role!oice typePremiere cast *1 Fe%ruary *,8< (/onductorG /leofonte /ampanini)[*3 Brescia cast 3+ May *,8< (/onductorG /leofonte /ampanini)[*3 /io0/io =an (Madama Butterfly)sopranoRosina =torchio=olomiya Hrushelnytska=u6uki, her maidme66o0sopranoGiuseppina GiaconiaGio2anna 'ucace2skaB( F( Pinkerton, #ieutenant in the $nited %tates &a'ytenorGio2anni >enatelloGio2anni >enatello=harpless, $nited %tates consul at &agasa(i%aritoneGiuseppe 7e 'uca!ir$ilio BellattiGoro, a matchma(ertenorGaetano Pini0/orsiGaetano Pini0/orsiPrince ;amadoritenor[*4 #milio !enturini"he Bon6e, Cio)Cio %an*s uncle%assPaolo Wulmann[*< ;akuside, Cio)Cio %an*s uncle%ass9ntonio !olpini[*< "he &mperial /ommissioner%ass!iale"he @fficial Re$istrar%assGennari/io0/io =an5s motherme66o0soprano"ina 9lasia"he auntsopranoGhissoni"he cousinsopranoPalmira Ma$$iHate Pinkertonme66o0sopranoManfredi7olore (5=orrow5), Cio)Cio %an*s childsilent/io0/io =an5s relations and friends and ser2ants=ynopsis[edit

"imeG *,8<( PlaceG :a$asaki, -apan(

Act 1[edit]
&n *,8<, a E(=( :a2al officer named Pinkerton rents a house on a hill in :a$asaki, -apan, for him and his soon0to0%e wife, )Butterfly)( Ber real name is /iocio0san, (cio)cio, pronounced )chocho)G the -apanese word for )%utterfly) is ch+ch+ )( =he is a *A0year0old -apanese $irl whom he is marryin$ for con2enience, since he intends to lea2e her once he finds a proper 9merican wife, and since -apanese di2orce laws are 2ery laD( "he weddin$ is to take place at the house( Butterfly had %een so eDcited to marry an 9merican that she had earlier secretly con2erted to /hristianity( 9fter the weddin$ ceremony, her unin2ited uncle, a bon,e, who has found out a%out her con2ersion, comes to the house, curses her and orders all the $uests to lea2e, which they do while renouncin$ her( Pinkerton and Butterfly sin$ a lo2e duet and prepare to spend their first ni$ht to$ether(

Act 2[edit]
"hree years later, Butterfly is still waitin$ for Pinkerton to return, as he had left shortly after their weddin$( Ber maid =u6uki keeps tryin$ to con2ince her that he is not comin$ %ack, %ut Butterfly will not listen to her( Goro, the marria$e %roker who arran$ed her marria$e, keeps tryin$ to marry her off a$ain, %ut she won5t listen to him either( "he 9merican /onsul, =harpless, comes to the house with a letter which he has recei2ed from Pinkerton which asks him to %reak some news to Butterfly, that Pinkerton is comin$ %ack to -apan, %ut =harpless cannot %rin$ himself to finish it %ecause Butterfly %ecomes 2ery eDcited to hear that Pinkerton is comin$ %ack( =harpless asks Butterfly what she would do if Pinkerton were not to return( =he then re2eals that she $a2e %irth to Pinkerton5s son after he had left and asks =harpless to tell him( From the hill house, Butterfly sees Pinkerton5s ship arri2in$ in the har%our( =he and =u6uki prepare for his arri2al, and then they wait( =u6uki and the child fall asleep, %ut Butterfly stays up all ni$ht waitin$ for him to arri2e(

Act 3[edit]
=u6uki wakes up in the mornin$ and Butterfly finally falls asleep( =harpless and Pinkerton arri2e at the house, alon$ with Pinkerton5s new 9merican wife, Hate( "hey ha2e come %ecause Hate has a$reed to raise the child( But, as Pinkerton sees how Butterfly has decorated the house for his return, he reali6es he has made a hu$e mistake( Be admits that he is a coward and cannot face her, lea2in$ =u6uki, =harpless and Hate to %reak the news to Butterfly( 9$reein$ to $i2e up her child if Pinkerton comes himself to see her, she then prays to statues of her ancestral $ods, says $ood%ye to her son, and %lindfolds him( =he places a small 9merican fla$ into his hands and $oes %ehind a screen, cuttin$ her throat with her father5s hara0 kiri knife( Pinkerton rushes in( Be is too late(

=ynopsis (musical num%ers) edit

[

@ri$inal poster "his is a synopsis of the standard 2ersion[*A of the opera, with its arias, duets, trios, choruses, etc( "he synopsis is or$ani6ed into the 4< tracks that constitute most recordin$s(

Act 1[edit]
*( 9 short orchestral prelude with a %usy, fu$al openin$ theme, followed %y a second theme of more o2ertly -apanese character, leads strai$ht into the openin$ scene( 3( - soffitto e "areti ()9nd ceilin$ and walls))( Pinkerton, a E(=( :a2al @fficer on E== Abraham #incoln, and Goro, a -apanese marria$e %roker, are inspectin$ a small house which sits on a hill and o2erlooks the %ay( Goro has found the house for Pinkerton and his %ride, and is showin$ him the house, with its slidin$ doors and small $arden( "he %utler, the cook and the %rideIs maid, =u6uki, enter the $arden and are introduced to Pinkerton( 9fter they lea2e, Goro tells Pinkerton that e2erythin$ is now ready and that his intended %ride, a $irl of *A called /io0/io =an (nicknamed Butterfly), will arri2e soon, as will the 9merican /onsul, the marria$e Re$istrar and all the %rideIs relati2es, eDcept her uncle( Ber uncle is a priest and refuses to attend the weddin$ ceremony( =harpless, the 9merican /onsul, has clim%ed up the hill from the city( Be enters the $arden, $reets Pinkerton and Goro, and admires the 2iew that o2erlooks :a$asakiIs har%or and the sea( Pinkerton tells =harpless that he has Fust purchased the little house for ,,, years, with the ri$ht e2ery month to cancel the a$reement(

Pinkerton eDplains that, in -apan, the law is 2ery loose( 4( .o'un/ue al mondo ()"hrou$hout the world))( 9s the orchestra plays the openin$ flourish to "he =tar =pan$led Banner (a musical theme which will characteri6e Pinkerton throu$hout the opera), Pinkerton tells =harpless that, throu$hout the world, the ;ankee wanderer is not satisfied until he captures the flowers of e2ery shore and the lo2e of e2ery %eautiful woman( )=o & am marryin$ in the -apanese styleG for ,,, years, %ut with the ri$ht to cancel the marria$e each month)( =harpless is critical of PinkertonIs %eliefs, %ut they stand and a$ree, )9merica fore2er)( Pinkerton tells Goro to %rin$ Butterfly to him( When Goro lea2es, =harpless asks Pinkerton if he is really in lo2e( <( Amore o grillo ()'o2e or fancy))( Pinkerton admits to =harpless that he does not know whether he is really in lo2e or Fust infatuated, %ut he is %ewitched with ButterflyIs innocence, charm and %eautyJ she is like a %utterfly flutterin$ around and then landin$ with silent $race, so %eautiful )that & must ha2e her, e2en thou$h & inFure her %utterfly win$s)( =harpless tells Pinkerton that he heard Butterfly speak, when she 2isited the /onsulate, and he asks Pinkerton not to pluck off her delicate win$s( Bowe2er, Pinkerton tells =harpless that he will do )no $reat harm, e2en if Butterfly falls in lo2e() =harpless takes his $lass of whisky and offers a toast to PinkertonIs family at home, to which Pinkerton adds, )and to the day when & will ha2e a real weddin$ and marry a real 9merican %ride() Goro re0enters to tell Pinkerton and =harpless that ButterflyIs friends are comin$(

)9ncora un passo)

MENU 0:00 =un$ %y Frances 9lda in *,*4(

Pro%lems playin$ this fileK =ee media help(A( Ancora un "asso ()@ne step more))( Butterfly can %e heard $uidin$ her friends to the top of the hill, Fu%ilantly tellin$ them that )@2er land and sea, there floats the Foyful %reath of sprin$( & am the happiest $irl in -apan, or rather in the world() Butterfly and her friends enter the $arden( =he reco$ni6es Pinkerton and points him out to her friends, and all %ow down %efore him( C( 0ran 'entura ()May $ood fortune attend you))( Butterfly $reets Pinkerton, who asks a%out her difficult clim% up the hill( Butterfly says that, for a happy %ride, the wait is e2en more difficult( Pinkerton thanks her for the compliment %ut cuts her off as she continues to make others( Butterfly tells Pinkerton and =harpless that her family is from :a$asaki and was once 2ery wealthy( 1( #12m"erial Commissario ()"he &mperial /ommissioner))( Goro announces the arri2al of %oth the Grand /ommissioner and the Re$istrar of marria$es( Butterfly $reets her relati2es, who ha2e arri2ed for the weddin$( Pinkerton lau$hs at the si$ht and whispers to =harpless, )"his is a farceG all these will %e my new relati2es for only a month() =harpless tells him that, e2en thou$h he considers the marria$e contract a farce, she considers it 2ery real( Meanwhile, Butterfly tells her relati2es how much she lo2es Pinkerton( @ne of her cousins says that Goro first offered Pinkerton to her, %ut she refused( ButterflyIs relati2es say that heIs like a kin$, so rich and so handsome, and then, at a si$n from Butterfly, all her friends and relati2es %ow to Pinkerton and walk out to the $arden( Pinkerton takes ButterflyIs hand and leads her into the house( +( 3ieni, amor mio4 ()/ome, my lo2eL))( From her slee2e, Butterfly %rin$s out to show Pinkerton all of her treasures, which include only a few handkerchiefs, a mirror, a sash, and other trinkets( "hen she shows him a lon$, narrow case, which she tells him holds her only sacred treasure, %ut she cannot open it, %ecause there are too many people around( Goro whispers to Pinkerton that the case contains a )$ift) from the Mikado to ButterflyIs father, in2itin$ him to commit seppuku( Butterfly continues to show Pinkerton her other little treasures, includin$ se2eral little statuesG )"hey are the spirits of my ancestors() ,( 2era son salita tutta sola ();esterday, & went all alone))( Butterfly tells Pinkerton that yesterday, in secret and without tellin$ her uncle, who is a Buddhist priest, the Bon6e, she went to the /onsulate, where she a%andoned her ancestral reli$ion and con2erted to PinkertonIs reli$ion( )& am followin$ my destiny and, full of humility, %ow to Mr( PinkertonIs God() *8( utti ,itti ()Muiet e2eryone))( #2erythin$ is ready, and Goro tells e2eryone to %e ?uiet( "he /ommissioner conducts the %rief ceremony and witnesses Pinkerton and Butterfly si$n the official papers( **( Madama Butterfly ()Madam Butterfly))( "he weddin$ cele%ration %e$ins, and e2eryone wishes happiness to the new couple( 9fter a short while, =harpless pleads with Pinkerton not to %e cruel, and he lea2es with the /ommissioner and the Re$istrar( Pinkerton, Butterfly and their $uests continue the cele%ration with many toasts( *3( Cio)Cio %an4 ()/io0/io =an))( "he toasts are interrupted %y an an$ry 2oice offsta$e, sayin$ )/io0/io =anL /io0/io =anL

;ou are damned() ButterflyIs uncle, the Bon6e, has disco2ered that Butterfly has renounced her ancestral reli$ion, and he has arri2ed to deli2er his curse( Be stands o2er Butterfly, shoutin$ his curses at her, when Pinkerton inter2enes to stop him( "he Bon6e is shocked at the 9merican, and he orders all the $uests to lea2e with him, sayin$ to Butterfly, );ou ha2e renounced us, and we renounce you() 9ll the $uests shout their renunciation as they rush away( "he ni$ht is fallin$( Butterfly is weepin$( Pinkerton consoles her( *4( Bimba, Bimba, non "iangere ()=weetheart, sweetheart, do not weep))( ("his %e$ins the famous lon$ lo2e duet, which ends 9ct &() Pinkerton tells Butterfly that )9ll your relati2es and all the priests in -apan are not worth the tears from your lo2in$, %eautiful eyes() Butterfly smiles throu$h her tears, );ou mean thatK & wonIt cry any more( 9nd & do not worry a%out their curses, %ecause your words sound so sweet() "hey hear =u6uki offsta$e, sayin$ her e2enin$ prayers( *49( 3iene la sera ():i$ht is fallin$))( ("he lon$ duet continues() Pinkerton tells Butterfly that the ):i$ht is fallin$), and Butterfly answers that )with it comes darkness and peace() Pinkerton claps his hands, and the three ser2ants enter and close up the house( "hen =u6uki helps Butterfly dress for her weddin$ ni$ht( Pinkerton watches Butterfly, as she watches him, %ut her happiness is tempered, as )still the an$ry 2oice curses me( Butterfly is renounced . renounced %ut happy)( *<( Bimba dagli occhi ()=weetheart, with eyes((())( ("he lon$ duet continues() Pinkerton admires the %eautiful Butterfly and tells her, )you ha2e not yet told me that you lo2e me() Butterfly replies that she does not want to say the words, )for fear of dyin$ at hearin$ themL) =he tells him that now she is happy( *A( 3ogliatemi bene ()'o2e me, please())( ("he lon$ duet concludes() Butterfly pleads with Pinkerton to )'o2e me, please() =he asks whether it is true that, in forei$n lands, a man will catch a %utterfly and pin its win$s to a ta%le( Pinkerton admits that it is true %ut eDplains, )7o you know whyK =o that sheIll not fly away() Be em%races her and says, )& ha2e cau$ht you( ;ou are mine() =he replies, );es, for life()

Act 2[edit]
*C( - 2,aghi e 2,anami ()9nd &6ana$i and &6anami))( 9s the curtain opens, three years ha2e passed( =u6uki kneels in front of a Buddha, prayin$ that Butterfly will stop cryin$( Butterfly hears and tells her that the -apanese $ods are fat and la6y, and that the 9merican God will answer ?uickly, if only Be knows where they are li2in$( =u6uki tells Butterfly that their money has almost run out and, if Pinkerton does not return ?uickly, they will suffer in a %ad way( Butterfly assures =u6uki that Pinkerton will return, %ecause he took care to arran$e for the /onsul to pay the rent and to fit the house with locks to keep out the mos?uitoes, relati2es and trou%les( =u6uki tells Butterfly that forei$n hus%ands ne2er return to their -apanese wi2es, %ut Butterfly replies furiously that Pinkerton had assured her, on the 2ery last mornin$ they were to$ether, )@h, Butterfly, my little wife, & shall return with the roses, when the earth is full of Foy, when the ro%in makes his nest() =u6uki %e$ins ?uietly to weep( *1( $n bel d5 ()@ne %eautiful day))( &n this, the opera5s most famous aria (and one of the most popular works in the soprano repertoire), Butterfly says that, )one %eautiful day), they will see a puff of smoke on the far hori6on( "hen a ship will appear and enter the har%or( =he will not $o down to meet him %ut will wait on the hill for him to come( 9fter a lon$ time, she will see in the far distance a man %e$innin$ the walk out of the city and up the hill( When he arri2es, he will call )Butterfly) from a distance, %ut she will not answer, partly for fun and partly not to die from the eDcitement of the first meetin$( "hen he will speak the names he used to call herG )'ittle one( 7ear wife( @ran$e %lossom() Butterfly promises =u6uki that this will happen( =u6uki departs, as =harpless and Goro arri2e in the $arden( *+( C1e. -ntrate. ()=heIs there( Go in())( =harpless $reets her, )#Dcuse me, Madam Butterfly() Without lookin$ to see who is speakin$, Butterfly corrects him, )Madam Pinkerton, please() 9s she turns and sees that it is =harpless who has spoken, she eDclaims in happiness, )My 2ery dear /onsul( Welcome to this 9merican home() =harpless draws a letter from his pocket and tells her, )BenFamin Franklin Pinkerton has written to me() =harpless tells her that Pinkerton is perfectly well, and she says, )& am the happiest woman in -apan() Butterfly asks him, )When do the ro%ins make their nests in 9mericaK) "he ?uestion confuses =harpless, so Butterfly eDplains that Pinkerton promised to return to her )when the ro%in %uilds his nest a$ain() =he says that, in -apan, the ro%in has already %uilt his nest three times, and she asks if )o2er there he nests less fre?uently() =harpless, mortified, tells her that he does not know %ecause he has not studied ornitholo$y( 9t this, Butterfly hears Goro lau$h, and she whispers to =harpless that Goro is a %ad man( =he tells him that, after Pinkerton left, Goro came to her many times )with presents to palm off this or that hus%and on me() =he says that Goro now wants her to a$ree to marry the wealthy man ;amadori, who then is arri2in$ with his entoura$e to a musical accompaniment that ?uotes the same -apanese folk tune (Miyasan) that Gil%ert and =ulli2an set as )Mi0ya sama) in he Mi(ado( *,( 6amadori, ancor le "ene ();amadori, are you not yetN))( Butterfly sees ;amadori and asks him if he is not $oin$ to $i2e up pursuin$ her, %ecause );ou ha2e already had many different wi2es() ;amadori admits that he married all of them, %ut says that he di2orced them too( &n the meantime, =harpless $i2es up tryin$ to read PinkertonIs letter to Butterfly, and he puts the letter %ack in his pocket( Goro tells =harpless that Butterfly thinks that she is still married( Butterfly hears this and says, )& donIt think & amJ & am() When Goro tries to tell her a%out the -apanese law of marria$e, Butterfly interrupts and tells him that the -apanese law is not the law of her country, the Enited =tates( =he tells Goro that she understands how easy di2orce is under -apanese law, )%ut in 9merica, you cannot do that() =he turns sharply and asks =harpless, )9m & correctK) =harpless is em%arrassed and must admit that she is correct( Butterfly turns triumphantly to =u6uki and asks that she ser2e tea( ;amadori, =harpless and Goro ?uietly discuss ButterflyIs %lindness( Goro whispers that PinkertonIs ship is eDpected to

arri2e soon, and =harpless eDplains that Pinkerton is too em%arrassed to meet Butterfly and has asked =harpless to handle it( ;amadori, offended, departs with his $rand entoura$e and Goro( =harpless remains, sits neDt to Butterfly, and takes the letter out of his pocket once more( 38( 7ra a noi. ():ow for us())( =harpless %e$ins to read PinkertonIs letter to ButterflyG )My friend, will you find that lo2ely flower of a $irlN) Butterfly cannot control her happiness, as he continues, )since that happy times, three years ha2e passed, and Butterfly perhaps does not remem%er me anymore() Butterfly looks at =u6uki and says, )& donIt remem%er himK =u6uki, you tell himL) =harpless continues, )&f she still lo2es me, if she awaits me, & place myself in your hands so that you may carefully and considerately prepare her N) Butterfly eDclaims, )Be is comin$L WhenK =oonL =oonL) =harpless cannot %ear to continue( Be puts the letter away, mutterin$ to himself, )that de2il PinkertonL) =harpless asks her $ently, )Butterfly, what would you do if he ne2er returnedK) Butterfly is shocked( 3*( .ue cose "otrei far ()"wo thin$s & could do))( Butterfly cries that, if Pinkerton ne2er returned, she would $o %ack to entertainin$ people with her son$s, or, %etter, die( =harpless pleads with her to accept the rich offer from ;amadori( Butterfly is upset with =harpless and instructs =u6uki to show him out( 9s he %e$ins to lea2e, Butterfly stops him, apolo$i6es for her an$er, and eDplains that his ?uestions ha2e hurt her )so 2ery, 2ery muchL) "hen she $oes into another room and returns, %rin$in$ with her the %londe0haired two0year0old %oy who is her constant reminder of her 9merican hus%and( 33( Ah4 M1ha scordata8 ()9hL Be has for$otten meK))( Butterfly shows =harpless her child, and =harpless asks if Pinkerton knows( Butterfly replies, ):o( "he child was %orn when he was away in his %i$ country() =he asks =harpless to write and tell him that his son waits for him( )9nd then we shall see if he does not hurry o2er land and seaL) Butterfly kneels in front of her son and asks him, )7o you know that that $entleman had dared to think that your mother would take you in her arms and walk to town, throu$h the wind and rain, to earn your %read and clothes( 9nd she would stretch out her arms to the pityin$ crowd, cryin$ O'istenL 'isten to my sad son$, For an unhappy mother, your charity( "ake pityL 9nd Butterfly . oh, horri%le destiny . will dance for youL 9nd as she used to do, the Geisha will sin$ for you( 9nd her Foyful, happy son$ will end in a so%L) =he kneels in front of =harpless and says that she will ne2er do that, )that trade which leads to dishonor( 7eathL 7eathL :e2er more to danceL Rather would & cut short my lifeL 9hL 7eathL) 34( 2o scendo al "iano. ()& will $o now()) =harpless finally says, )& will $o now() Butterfly $i2es him her hand and this her childIs( =harpless asks the child his name, and Butterfly answers for him, )"oday my name is =orrow( But write and tell 7addy that, the day he returns, my name will %e -oy() =harpless promises to tell Pinkerton( @ffsta$e, =u6uki can %e heard shoutin$, )=nake( 7amned toadL) =u6uki enters, pullin$ Goro with her, and she tells Butterfly, )Be %u66es around, the snake( #2ery day he tells the four winds that no one knows who is the childIs fatherL) Goro eDplains that, in 9merica, when a child is %orn with a curse, he will always %e reFected %y e2eryone( &n a ra$e, Butterfly runs to the shrine, sei6es the da$$er and threatens to sta% him, );ou are lyin$L ;ou are lyin$L =ay that a$ain, and & will kill youL) Goro flees( =u6uki takes the child to the other room( Butterfly replaces the da$$er, $oes to her son and says, );ouIll see, my darlin$, my =orrow( ;ou will see, your sa2ior will take us far, far away to his land() 3<( 2l cannone del "orto4 ()"he cannon at the har%orL), often known as "he Flower 7uet)( -ust then a cannon shot is heard( =u6uki and Butterfly watch from the hill as the ship enters the har%or and drops anchor( "hen Butterfly sees that the ship is the Abraham #incoln, and she tells =u6uki, )"hey were all lyin$L 9ll of themL & alone knew( @nly &, who lo2e him() =he continues, )My lo2e, my faith, triumphs completelyL Be has returned, and he lo2es meL) =he tells =u6uki to prepare a fra$rant %ath and asks how lon$ she will ha2e to wait for him( )9n hourK "wo hours, perhapsK "he house must %e filled with flowers( #2erywhere( 9s the ni$ht is full of starsL) Butterfly tells =u6uki to $ather all the flowers( 3A( utti i fiori8 ()9ll the flowersK))( =u6uki asks, )9ll the flowersK) Butterfly says yes, all the flowers from all the %ushes and plants and trees( )& want the whole fra$rance of =prin$ in here() "hey continue to $ather flowers and place them e2erywhere( 3C( 7r 'ienmi ad adornar ():ow come to adorn me))( Finally, Butterfly sits at her dressin$ ta%le and tells =u6uki, ):ow, come and adorn me( :o, first %rin$ me the child() =he puts a touch of rou$e on her own and on her childIs cheeks and then, as =u6uki does her hair, asks her, )What will they sayK My uncle, the priestK 9ll so happy at my miseryL 9nd ;amadori, with his pursuitK Ridiculed, dis$raced, made foolish, the hateful thin$sL) Butterfly dons the same dress that she wore as a %ride, while =u6uki dresses her child( Butterfly tells =u6uki that she wants Pinkerton to see her dressed as she was on the first day )and a red poppy in my hair() 31( Coro a bocca chiusa ()Bummin$ /horus))( 9s the off0sta$e chorus hums a wordless, melancholy tune, Butterfly, her child and =u6uki %e$in the lon$ wait for Pinkerton to come( :i$ht falls( =u6uki and the %a%y are soon asleep, %ut Butterfly keeps her 2i$il( ("here is no intermission %etween 9cts 3 and 4 . the action continues without interruption as the Bummin$ /horus ends and mornin$ li$ht appears()

Act 3[edit]
3+( 7h eh4 7h eh4 ()Bea2e0hoL Bea2e0hoL))( =u6uki and the %a%y are asleep, %ut Butterfly remains standin$ and waitin$( 7istant 2oices are heard from the %ay( =ailors are sin$in$, )Bea2e0hoL Bea2e0hoL) "he sun rises and fills ButterflyIs house with li$ht( 3,( 0i9 il sole4 ()"he =un5s come upL))( =u6uki awakes and is 2ery sad( Butterfly tells her that )Be will come() "hen she

carries her sleepin$ child into the other room and tells him to sleep, while she too falls asleep( =u6uki waits in the front room and hears a knock at the door( Pinkerton and =harpless ha2e arri2ed, %ut Pinkerton tells =u6uki not to wake Butterfly and asks how Butterfly knew that Pinkerton had arri2ed( =u6uki tells him that, for the last three years, Butterfly has studied e2ery ship that entered the port( =harpless tells Pinkerton, )7id & not tell you soK) =u6uki sees a stran$e woman in the $arden, learns from =harpless that she is PinkertonIs 9merican wife and collapses to her knees in shock( 48( 2o so che sue dolore ()& know that her pain))( While Pinkerton looks at the flowers, the picture of himself and the room that has remained unchan$ed for three years, =harpless tells =u6uki that they can do nothin$ for Butterfly %ut that they must help her child( =harpless tells her that PinkertonIs new wife, Hate, wants to care for the child( =u6uki $oes into the $arden to meet PinkertonIs new wife, while =harpless reminds Pinkerton, )& told you, didnIt &K 7o you remem%erK When she $a2e you her handG O"ake careI, & said, Oshe %elie2es in youI( =he has %een waitin$ for you() Pinkerton admits his wron$ and lea2es =harpless to tell Butterfly the shameful news( 4*( Addio, fiorito asil ()Farewell, flowery refu$e))( Pinkerton says )Farewell, flowery refu$e of happiness and of lo2e, her $entle face will always haunt me, torturin$ me endlessly() Be admits that he is a coward and cannot face her, and ?uickly lea2es as =u6uki and Hate enter from the $arden( Hate is tellin$ =u6uki to assure Butterfly that Hate will look after her child like her own son( 43( %u,u(i4 %u,u(i4 ()=u6ukiL =u6ukiL))( From offsta$e, Butterfly calls for =u6uki and then enters the room( 9s she enters, Hate retreats to the $arden, so that she will not %e seen( =he asks =u6uki why she is cryin$, and then she sees =harpless and the woman in the $arden( =he tells =u6uki, )=u6uki, you are so kind( 7o not cry( ;ou lo2e me so much( "ell me softly, Fust OyesI or OnoI N &s he ali2eK) When =u6uki answers, )yes), Butterfly understands that Pinkerton is not comin$ for her and that Hate is his new wife( Butterfly reali6es that she must $i2e up her son, and Hate asks her for$i2eness( Finally, Butterfly tells Hate, )& will $i2e my child to her only if he comes himself( &n half an hour, come up the hill a$ain() =u6uki escorts Hate and =harpless out, and Butterfly falls weepin$( 44( Come una mosca ()'ike a little fly))( Butterfly stands, sees =u6uki and tells her to close up the house, %ecause it is too li$ht and sprin$0like( "hen she orders her to $o to the other room where the child is playin$( Butterfly then kneels %efore the statue of Buddha and prays to her ancestral $ods( =he rises, takes down her fatherIs knife, kisses the %lade, and reads the inscription( 4<( Con onor muore ()"o die with honor))( Butterfly reads the inscription on her fatherIs knifeG )Who cannot li2e with honor must die with honor() ButterflyIs child enters, %ut =u6uki does not( Butterfly tells her child not to feel sorrow for his motherIs desertion %ut to keep a faint memory of his motherIs face( =he %ids him farewell, seats him on the floor and %lindfolds him $ently( =he $i2es him a miniature 9merican fla$ to wa2e in $reetin$ to his father, which he does, %lindfolded, throu$hout the followin$ action( Butterfly takes the knife and walks %ehind the screen( "he knife clatters to the floor as Butterfly sta$$ers from %ehind the screen with a scarf around her neck( =he kisses her child and collapses( From outside, Pinkerton cries, )ButterflyL) and rushes in . %ut it is too lateG Butterfly is dead(

Recordin$s edit
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Main article: Madama Butterfly discogra"hy

9daptations edit
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9nna May Won$ holdin$ the child in the *,33 film he oll of the %ea :;:<: A silent film 'ersion =as directed by %idney 7lcott and starred Mary >ic(ford.?:@A :;BB: A silent color film, he oll of the %ea, based on the o"eraC"lay =as released. his mo'ie, =hich starred Anna May Dong in her first leading role, mo'ed the storyline to China. 2t =as the second t=o)color echnicolor motion "icture e'er released and the first film made using echnicolor >rocess B. :;EB: Madame Butterfly, a non)singing drama (=ith am"le "ortions of >uccini*s score in the musical underscoring) made by >aramount starring%yl'ia %idney and Cary 0rant in blac( F =hite.?:GA :;<H: Madame Butterfly, a screen ada"tation of the o"era, directed by Carmine 0allone Iointly "roduced by 2taly*s Cineri, and !a"an*s oho. he film =as shot in echnicolor at Cinecitt9 in Jome, 2taly. %tarring !a"anese actress Kaoru 6achigusa as Cio)Cio %an and 2talian tenor &icola Filacuridi as >in(erton, and =ith !a"anese actors and

2talian actors, dubbed by 2talian o"era singers.?:LA :;GH: Madama Butterfly, a 0erman tele'ision ada"tation of the o"era starring Mirella Freni and >lMcido .omingo, directed by !ean)>ierre >onnelle. :;LH: British >o" im"resario Malcolm Mc#aren =rote and "erformed a $K hit single, "Madame Butterfly ($n bel d5 'edremo)", "roduced by %te"hen Nague, based on the o"era and featuring the famous aria. he trac( =as "art of his :;LH album Fans =hich featured ada"tations of 'arious o"eras. :;LL: 2n .a'id Nenry N=ang*s "lay M. Butterfly, the story of a French di"lomat and a Chinese o"era singer, Butterfly is denounced as a =estern stereoty"e of a timid, submissi'e Asian. :;L;: he Broad=ay and Dest -nd musical Miss %aigon =as, in "art, based on Madama Butterfly. he story =as mo'ed to 3ietnam and hailand and set against the bac(dro" of the 3ietnam Dar and the Fall of %aigon, but the central themes are largely unchanged. :;;E: .a'id Cronenberg directed a film ada"tation of .a'id Nenry N=ang*s :;LL "lay. :;;<: FrOdOric Mitterrand directed a film 'ersion of the o"era in unisia, &orth Africa, starring Jichard roPell and Chinese singer 6ing Nuang in the lead roles. :;;<: Australian choreogra"her %tanton Delch created a ballet, ins"ired by the o"era, for he Australian Ballet.?:;A :;;@: he Album >in(erton by the roc( band Dee,er =as based loosely on the o"era. BQQH: 7n the :QQth anni'ersary of Madama Butterfly, %higea(i %aegusa com"osed !r. Butterfly to a libretto by Masahi(o %himada. BQ:E: Cho Cho, musical drama by .aniel Keene, music by Cheng !in, set in :;EQs %hanghai?BQA

References edit
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