Puccini's "Madama Butterfly"
from the 2015/2016 season
CAST: Kristine Opolais, Maria Zifchak, Roberto Alagna, Dwayne Croft
The Sedona International Film Festival is proud to present the encore of the Met Opera’s “Madama Butterfly” (from the 2015/2016 season) on Saturday, June 23 at 1 p.m. at the Mary D. Fisher Theatre.
Anthony Minghella’s beautiful, atmospheric production enhances Puccini’s drama of doomed love. Soprano Kristine Opolais brings all of her passionate commitment to her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San, the teenage geisha who gives up everything for Lt. Pinkerton. Tenor Roberto Alagna is the American naval officer who does not understand the depth of Cio-Cio-San’s love and whose subsequent marriage to an American woman precipitates Butterfly’s suicide. Mezzo-soprano Maria Zifchak is Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San’s faithful servant, and baritone Dwayne Croft plays the American consul Sharpless, who tries to avert the tragedy. Karel Mark Chichon conducts.
ACT I
Japan, at the turn of the 20th century. The 15-year-old geisha Cio-Cio-San, called Butterfly, enters into an arranged marriage with U.S. Navy Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton. He just wants to enjoy himself, but she takes the union seriously, even converting to Christianity. On her wedding day, she endures the scorn of her entire family, who denounces her for betraying their traditional faith.
ACT II
Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting for Pinkerton, who returned to America shortly after the marriage. A rich Japanese prince asks her to marry him, but she rejects his proposal, claiming that her husband has not deserted her. The American consul Sharpless visits, but before he can break the news that Pinkerton will soon arrive with his new American wife, Butterfly shows him her young son. Sharpless can’t bring himself to tell her the truth. Pinkerton’s ship arrives in the harbor, and Butterfly, her maid Suzuki, and the child settle into an all-night vigil.
ACT III
Dawn breaks, and Butterfly is still waiting. When she is confronted with the truth in the person of Kate Pinkerton, she agrees to give up her son if Pinkerton will come for him. Knowing she cannot continue to live without honor, she says goodbye to her child, blindfolds him, and kills herself as Pinkerton arrives.