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Madame Butterfly was hailed as a disaster on it's La Scala premiere (on
February 17, 1904), but Puccini was so sure of his achievement that he
reworked it with minor changes to a great reception three months later,
and it subsequently evolved into what it is today - one of the world's most
popular operas. This version tries to stick to the original as closely
as possible, and includes a lot more of the score than is commonly heard
today.
The setting is Nagasaki, in the late 19th century, based round the
sometimes bleak and sometimes beautiful simplicity of a traditional
Japanese house.
The title character (Sung by soprano Nuccia Focile) is Cio-Cio-San, a
Japanese Geisha also known as Butterfly. Butterfly marries an American
naval officer named Pinkerton (tenor Paul Charles Clarke) stationed in
Nagasaki.
However, Pinkerton sees the marriage as one of convenience, and it's not
long before he returns back to the United States, leaving Butterfly
behind. Butterfly waits faithfully for Pinkerton's return, having
secretly given birth to his son after his departure.
After years of no communication between Pinkerton and Butterfly, he
returns to Nagasaki accompanied by a woman he married in the United
States. Pinkerton can't even face Butterfly, but his American wife
expresses a desire to take Butterfly's son back to America, where she
will raise him as her own. Butterfly's heart is broken by these
developments, setting up the opera's tragic dénouement.
Slightly subdued, the Welsh National Opera's version of Madame Butterfly
gradually draws you in, building up from a quiet beginning to the
suicidal finale. Nuccia Focile gave a strong performance as Butterfly,
ranging from young and innocent in Act I, to slightly bolder as she
grows up three years later in Act II. She really got into the role was
when singing of her dream of his return in the famous aria "Un bel di" -
one of the more moving moments in a good performance.
I especially liked Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San's servant (Anna Burford) who
contrasted the quieter, fantasising Butterfly with a more grounded
performance featuring a strong powerful voice. Pinkerton (Paul Charles
Clarke), however, was not as impressive as I think he could have been
vocally, being drowned out at times by the orchestra, and Christopher
Purves rich voice outshone him with a strong performance as Sharpless,
the concerned US consul.
A problem I had was the venue - it was way too hot, and this detracted
from the opera somewhat as the audience started to melt slightly in the
heat. (which no doubt could also be felt on stage)
Overall, I thought it was a good production by the top-class Welsh
National Opera with some lovely music, and despite the constantly bleak
subject matter, it was a lovely spectacle.
Alistair Power
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