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Friday, December 25, 2009

Reviews at the Opera: Madame Butterfly

By Jeff Bridges

Madame Butterfly is an opera written by Giacomo Puccini which is very popular. We strongly recommend opera glasses for this breathtaking opera. The reasons why are about to be shown to you.

The Madame Butterfly opera begins with a United States Naval Officer, one of the main characters named Pinkerton and a Japanese Marriage Broker named Goro. Pinkerton and Goro are looking at a little house with a gorgeous view from the top of a hill overlooking the bay. Pinkerton wants to have the house home for 999 years. His 999 years include being able to cancel the housing agreement.

The wedding ceremony is soon to take place between Pinkerton and Butterfly. A lot of Butterfly's relatives will be flying in and coming to the wedding. Butterfly's uncle will not attend the wedding as he is a priest.

Pinkerton of course plans to marry Butterfly however, his true goal in life is to gain the love of as many beautiful women as possible, as he puts it, and he will not be satisfied until he captures the flowers of every shore. For this reason he retained the right to cancel the agreement any month. The time approaches that the stage will introduce you to the elegant Butterfly, have your opera glasses prepared.

Before you get to see Butterfly's beauty, one final part of the opera plays through. The American Consul, who is with Pinkerton, asks him if he loves Madame Butterfly. A yes will not come out of the mouth of Pinkerton, nor could it, for Pinkerton, is simply infatuated with Butterfly's innocence, beauty and charm. He does not love her. Pinkerton then begins to speak of one day having an American woman to wed.

Butterfly finally graces the stage. The wedding of the Officer and Butterfly begins, as Butterfly's family looks on. After the wedding has taken place, we find Butterfly's uncle has broken into the party, he has found out that Butterfly has abandoned her own religion for Pinkerton's by marrying him. Butterfly is crushed, but is consoled by her unloving husband Pinkerton.

Butterfly finally gets over the condemnation and curse that she received from her uncle, and remains happily married to her beloved Pinkerton. Weeks turn to months, and she can hardly contain her joy and love for the man of her dreams, she continues to fall more deeply in love with a man that does not love her back. Pinkerton one day receives notice that he is to go on duty as a naval officer; before he leaves he gives Butterfly money, and promises to return as soon as possible.

Act three opens, to find that three years have passed. Butterfly continues to watch ships coming in hoping every day to see the ship of her beloved husband, in all this time her love for him has only increased. One day she sees the American consul who she has known from the beginning as Pinkerton's friend coming up the path to her home. Excitedly she greets him, hoping for news from her beloved. Unbeknownst to her, Pinkerton has asked him to go to Butterfly to tell her that he has wed another woman named Kate, and would not be coming back. Full of guilt the American gives the news.

Butterfly weeps as she hears the story of betrayal and leaves the room distraught. After a short moment she returns carrying a child, and reveals to the American Consul that it is Pinkerton's. She exclaims with all her heart that her husband could not possibly leave her wife and child for another. After further conversation with the Consul, she accepts that her husband was never truly hers.

What happens next, you will have to find out for yourself, by attending Madame Butterfly. The music in this opera is delightful as it is majestic, the attention to detail, and beauty of the costumes is unforgettable. Make sure you bring your opera glasses so that you can enjoy this opera to the fullest.

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