One Fine Day...
A spectacular failure at its first performance in 1904, Puccinis heart-breaking tale of a child-like love callously betrayed went on to become one of the most popular operas ever written. From the shimmering music of Butterflys entrance to the devastating scene of her suicide, this opera leaves no heart unmoved.
Madame Butterfly
Sung in Italian. Opens February 18, 2005, with performances also on February 20 (matinee), 23, 26, March 4 and 6 (matinee). Click on cast names below for artist bios, and to discover when those double cast will be singing. NOTE: Evening performances begin at 7:30 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m. All performances take place at Bickford Centre Theatre, 777 Bloor St W at Christie.
Madame Butterfly (Cio-Cio San) ....................
Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton ...........................
Suzuki ...............................................................
Sharpless .........................................................
Goro ..................................................................
The Bonze ........................................................
Prince Yamadori ...............................................
The Imperial Commissioner.............................
Kate Pinkerton ..................................................
Butterflys Child .................................................
Pianists ..............................................................
Stage Director ...................................................
Stage Manager ...................................................
Crew ....................................................................
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Nicole Dunsmore / Sarah Templeton
Romulo Delgado / Michael Sugrue
Elizabeth McLeod
Gerald Hannon
Igor Bily / Cesar Juarez-Vargas
John Allec
George Seppenwoolde
George Seppenwoolde
Solmas Baibordi
Azaria Worthington-Begoray
Adolfo De Santis / Lusine Saridekyan
Gabriel Graziano
Karin Fairbairn
Robert Balogh, Ricardo Bozzo, David LaGrotta, Thomas Munro
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Chorus: Solmas Baibordi, Jacqueline Bartok, Igor Bily, Karen Bojti, Catherine Cashore, Romulo Delgado, Nicole Dunsmore, Jaime Estrada, John George, Tita Griffin, Ron Hansen, Youngran Jo, Cesar Juarez-Vargas, Shek Ko, Chris Lea, Soon Jo (Ilaria) Lee, Wendy Maxwell, Eileen Mercier, Christina Natalino, Melchiorre Nicosia, William Parker, Riccardo Quercia, Christian Hernan Saez, Lynne Shuttleworth, Franco Sit, Jane Somerville, Michael Sugrue, Sinead Sugrue, Yoko Tamura, Sarah Templeton, Liza Thomas, Barbara Thomson, Yevgeny Yablonovsky, Yanling (Dorothy) Zhao.
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) is probably the most popular composer of Italian opera. His La Boheme has even been a hit on Broadway. His melodic gift and harmonic sensibility, his consummate skill in orchestration and unerring sense of theatre combined to create a style that was wholly original, homogeneous and compelling.
The Story
ACT I. Japan, early twentieth century. On a flowering terrace above Nagasaki harbor, U.S. Navy Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton inspects the house he has leased from a marriage broker, Goro, who has just procured him three servants and a geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. To the American consul, Sharpless, who arrives breathless from climbing the hill, Pinkerton describes the carefree philosophy of a sailor roaming the world in search of pleasure. At the moment, he is enchanted with the fragile Cio-Cio-San, but his 999-year marriage contract contains a monthly renewal option. When Sharpless warns that the girl may not take her vows so lightly, Pinkerton brushes aside such scruples, saying he will one day marry a real American wife. Cio-Cio-San is heard in the distance joyously singing of her wedding. Entering surrounded by friends, she tells Pinkerton how, when her family fell on hard times, she had to earn her living as a geisha. Her relatives bustle in, noisily expressing their opinions on the marriage. In a quiet moment, Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom her few earthly treasures and tells him of her intention to embrace his Christian faith. The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple. The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-Sans uncle, a Buddhist priest, who bursts in, cursing the girl for having renounced her ancestors religion. Pinkerton angrily sends the guests away. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, he dries her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.
ACT II. Three years later, Cio-Cio-San waits for her husbands return. As Suzuki prays to her gods for aid, her mistress stands by the doorway with her eyes fixed on the harbor. When the maid shows her how little money is left, Cio-Cio-San urges her to have faith: one fine day Pinkertons ship will appear on the horizon. Sharpless brings a letter from the lieutenant, but before he can read it to Cio-Cio-San, Goro comes with a suitor, the wealthy Prince Yamadori. The girl dismisses both marriage broker and prince, insisting her American husband has not deserted her. When they are alone, Sharpless again starts to read the letter and suggests Pinkerton may not return. Cio-Cio-San proudly carries forth her child, Dolore (Trouble), saying that as soon as Pinkerton knows he has a son he surely will come back; if he does not, she would rather die than return to her former life. Moved by her devotion, Sharpless leaves, without having revealed the full contents of the letter. Cio-Cio-San, on the point of despair, hears a cannon report; seizing a spyglass, she discovers Pinkertons ship entering the harbor. Now delirious with joy, she orders Suzuki to help her fill the house with flowers. As night falls, Cio-Cio-San, Suzuki and the child begin their vigil.
ACT III. As dawn breaks, Suzuki insists that Cio-Cio-San rest. Humming a lullaby to her child, she carries him to another room. Before long, Sharpless enters with Pinkerton, followed by Kate, his new wife. When Suzuki realizes who the American woman is, she collapses in despair but agrees to aid in breaking the news to her mistress. Pinkerton, seized with remorse, bids an anguished farewell to the scene of his former happiness, then rushes away. When Cio-Cio-San comes forth expecting to find him, she finds Kate instead. Guessing the truth, the shattered Cio-Cio-San agrees to give up her child if his father will return for him. Then, sending even Suzuki away, she takes out the dagger with which her father committed suicide and bows before a statue of Buddha, choosing to die with honor rather than live in disgrace. As she raises the blade, Suzuki pushes the child into the room. Sobbing farewell, Cio-Cio-San sends him into the garden to play, then stabs herself. As she dies, Pinkerton is heard calling her name.