by Amelia Schaffer

Created on: October 06, 2009   Last Updated: October 16, 2009

Giacomo Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly was based on the play Madam Butterfly by David Belasco, which in turn was based on a short story of the same name by John Luther Long. The libretto was written by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa, who had previously collaborated with Puccini on his operas Tosca (1900) and La bohme (1896). Madama Butterfly premiered at La Scala, Milan on February 17, 1904. It was originally written in two acts but is often performed in a revised, three-act version.

Moved by the play, Puccini sought to increase the pathos of Butterfly's death and the sympathy of the audience for her character - in contrast with the immoral Pinkerton - through beautiful music. Puccini strove for authenticity in the portrayal of Japanese culture, and based some of the colorful music on authentic Japanese melodies. (There are some inaccuracies, however; for example, a misunderstanding of the role of a Japanese geisha.)

Characters in Madama Butterfly

* Butterfly (Cio-Cio-san), a young Japanese girl (Soprano)
* Lieutenant Pinkerton, a member of the U.S. Navy stationed in Japan (Tenor)
* Sharpless, U.S. consul in Nagasaki (Baritone)
* Suzuki, a servant (Mezzo-soprano)
* Goro, a marriage broker (Tenor)
* The Bonze, Butterfly's uncle (Bass)
* Prince Yamadori (Tenor)
* Kate, Pinkerton's American wife (Mezzo-soprano)
* Dolore (Sorrow), Butterfly's young son (Silent)

Synopsis of Madama Butterfly

The opera's setting is Nagasaki, Japan around the turn of the century.

Act I

Lieutenant Pinkerton has just bought a house and a Japanese bride from Goro, the marriage broker. Goro describes the house to Pinkerton and introduces him to the servants. Sharpless, the consul, arrives. He sees that Pinkerton does not take the marriage seriously, believing that he is "free to annul the marriage monthly" in the Japanese fashion, and warns him not to go through with it. Pinkerton ignores him and sings the praises of America.

Butterfly arrives with her friends. She reveals that she is only fifteen. She shows Pinkerton her small possessions, including a sword which her father used to commit seppuku, and says that she has renounced her old religion. Butterfly introduces Pinkerton to her famly, and they are married. Her uncle the Bonze, a drunk and religious fanatic, arrives to denounce her for converting to Christianity, and her family disowns her. Pinkerton sends them away and consoles Butterfly.

Act II

Three years later, Butterfly has been abandoned by Pinkerton, but continues to believe in his promise to return to her. Goro arranges a marriage for her with Prince Yamodori, saying that abandonment is as good as divorce, but Butterfly refuses. Sharpless tries to tell her that Pinkerton has a new American wife, but Butterfly introduces him to her child, asking how Pinkerton could forget him. Learning that Pinkerton's ship has returned, Butterfly waits for him all night.

Sharpless returns with Pinkerton and his wife to take Butterfly's child back to America. Butterfly kills herself with her father's knife, telling her child that her sacrifice is so that he will not feel he has abandoned his mother. Pinkerton arrives too late and cries out Butterfly's name.

Sources

Melitz, Leo, trans. Richard Salinger. The Opera Goers' Complete Guide. New York: Dodd, Mead & Co., 1921.

Newman, Ernest. Stories of the Great Operas and Their Composers. Garden City: Garden City Publishing Co., Inc., 1930.

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