Madame Butterfly at St James Theatre

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2. Madame Butterfly

One of the most popular of all operas, featuring the famous "Humming Chorus" and "One Fine Day", Puccini’s Madame Butterfly is an exquisite tale of longing and betrayal set in the Japanese city of Nagasaki around the turn of last century. It beautifully juxtaposes the youth and innocence of Butterfly with the callousness of Pinkerton, the American naval officer who announces that, “throughout the world, the Yankee wanderer is not satisfied until he captures the flowers of every shore and the love of every beautiful woman”.

Fifteen-year-old Cio-Cio San (known as Butterfly) is enchanted by her handsome lover, who marries her and then leaves shortly after, returning to his homeland. Butterfly bears his child and faithfully waits for him to come back; but when he does, it is with his new American bride. Even the hard-hearted Pinkerton can’t face telling her that the marriage is over and she’s about to lose her son into the bargain. Accompanied by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra and the Vector Wellington Orchestra. Featuring the Chapman Tripp Opera Chorus. Sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Authors

• David Belasco
• Giacomo Puccini
• Giuseppe Giacosa
• Luigi Illica