Madame Butterfly at Rome’s Opera Theatre
A great event is waiting for us in Rome in the second half of May. On May 18th there will be the opening performance of Madame Butterfly, the famous opera by Giacomo Puccini (story by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica). The Japanese tragedy in two acts will be repeated for the next days, until May 28th. The show promises to be a hit thanks to the famous Israeli orchestra director Daniel Oren. The character of Madama Butterfly will be played by the Chinese soprano Xiu Wei Sun and by Raffaella Angeletti, soprano born in Turin, Italy. Orchestra and Choir will be from the Rome’s Opera Theatre, while the scenic set will be by the Teatro Comunale of Bologna.
Foto:© Suzanne Schwiertz
The last time that Madama Butterfly was produced in Rome was eight years ago.
Everybody knows the plot of this magnificent opera: ChoChoSan, young Japanese geisha gets married to the American Navy officer Pinkerton; the American officer will soon leave his young spouse, pregnant, to go back to the States. Three years later, he returns to Nagasaki with his new “official” American wife, to get his child back. ChoChoSan, who waited for his husband for such a long time, understands that her true love is in vain and kills herself after a last, desperate hug to her child. When Pinkerton, moved by his remorse, arrives to Madama Butterfly’s house, it will be too late. She quit suffering.
Not many people know, however, that the first production of Madama Butterfly at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, in February 1904, was a proper flop. Although Puccini spent a long time creating the opera and even studied hard about Japanese cultural customs to be included in the play, the audience didn’t appreciate his work and he was forced to modify the tragedy. Three months later Madama Butterfly was performed again in Teatro Grande in Brescia: that moment marked the beginning of Madama Butterfly success, which was later repeated in famous Opera Theatres all around the world, such as Covent Garden in London and Opera Comique in Paris.
This wonderful show is probably the highest peak of the lyrical season in Rome and it will be soon sold out. Hurry up!…rent apartments in Rome and buy your ticket for an intense production of Madama Butterfly at the Opera Theatre.
