- Giacomo Puccini
Madama Butterfly (1904)
- G Schirmer Inc (World)
G. Schirmer controls the rights in the English translation by John Gutman for this work but does not supply orchestral materials.
- Libretto by G. Giacosa and Luigi Illica. English translation by John Gutman.
- English, Italian
Programme Note
Cast List:
MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Cho-Cho-San): Soprano
SUZUKI, her servant: Mezzo-Soprano
KATE PINKERTON: Mezzo-Soprano
B. F. PINKERTON, Lieutenant in the United States Navy: Tenor
SHARPLESS, United States Consul at Nagasaki: Baritone
GORO, a marriage broker: Tenor
PRINCE YAMADORI: Baritone
THE BONZE, Cho-Cho-San's uncle: Bass
YAKUSIDÉ: Baritone
THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER: Bass
THE OFFICIAL REGISTRAR: Baritone
CHO-CHO-SAN'S MOTHER: Mezzo-Soprano
THE AUNT: Mezzo-Soprano
THE COUSIN: Soprano
SORROW, Cho-Cho-San's child
Cho-Cho-San's Relatives and Friends, Servants
Synopsis:
Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer, falls for the beautiful young geisha Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) and the pair agree to marry. However the selfish Pinkerton sees the marriage as a short-term arrangement while Cio-Cio San is prepared to sacrifice her culture and her disapproving family for the man she loves. Against the advice of the American Consul Sharpless, the wedding ceremony goes ahead. Pinkerton returns to America and Butterfly confidently awaits his return with their child and her servant Suzuki. Pinkerton eventually returns to Japan with his new American wife and learns that he has a son. Butterfly is overwhelmed by grief at her husband’s unfaithfulness and kills herself.
MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Cho-Cho-San): Soprano
SUZUKI, her servant: Mezzo-Soprano
KATE PINKERTON: Mezzo-Soprano
B. F. PINKERTON, Lieutenant in the United States Navy: Tenor
SHARPLESS, United States Consul at Nagasaki: Baritone
GORO, a marriage broker: Tenor
PRINCE YAMADORI: Baritone
THE BONZE, Cho-Cho-San's uncle: Bass
YAKUSIDÉ: Baritone
THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER: Bass
THE OFFICIAL REGISTRAR: Baritone
CHO-CHO-SAN'S MOTHER: Mezzo-Soprano
THE AUNT: Mezzo-Soprano
THE COUSIN: Soprano
SORROW, Cho-Cho-San's child
Cho-Cho-San's Relatives and Friends, Servants
Synopsis:
Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer, falls for the beautiful young geisha Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) and the pair agree to marry. However the selfish Pinkerton sees the marriage as a short-term arrangement while Cio-Cio San is prepared to sacrifice her culture and her disapproving family for the man she loves. Against the advice of the American Consul Sharpless, the wedding ceremony goes ahead. Pinkerton returns to America and Butterfly confidently awaits his return with their child and her servant Suzuki. Pinkerton eventually returns to Japan with his new American wife and learns that he has a son. Butterfly is overwhelmed by grief at her husband’s unfaithfulness and kills herself.