Miami performances are at the Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County, 1300 Biscayne Boulevard, Miami.

Fort Lauderdale performances are at the Au-Rene Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, 201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.

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Madama Butterfly

Music Excerpts:

Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

For him it was a moment of euphoric pleasure. For her it meant a lifetime of love and devotion. Family, fortune and honor—poor Butterfly forsakes them all for the officer who was no gentleman. Of all Puccini’s operas, this was his favorite, and of all FGO’s productions, this may promise to be your favorite.

“Cio-Cio-San abandons her religion, culture and sense of self for love. Hope is the essential seed of this tragedy, with the belief that against all odds dreams can become a reality. Who is not dreaming of such a love to give and receive? Who has not hoped at one point in his life that this gift could and should happen to them?”

Bernard Uzan
Stage Director

Cast

Cio-Cio-San
Shu-Ying Li, Apr 25, May 1, 3m, 8 in Miami; May 14 & 16 in Broward
Maria Kanyova, Apr 29, May 2, 5 & 9 in Miami

Pinkerton
Arturo Chacón-Cruz, Apr 25, May 1, 3m, 8 in Miami; May 14 & 16 in Broward
Alessandro Liberatore, Apr 29, May 2, 5 & 9 in Miami

Suzuki
Katharine Goeldner, All performances

Sharpless
Jake Gardner, All performances

Goro
Jeffrey Halili, All performances

Conductor
Stewart Robertson

Stage Director
Bernard Uzan

Set Designer
Anibal Lápiz

Costume Designer
Roberto Oswald

Lighting Designer
Gordon W. Olson

Production
Opéra de Montréal

Photograph of Shu-Ying Li by Deborah Gray Mitchell.

Sung in Italian with English and Spanish projected titles made possible by TOTALBANK.

This production has been made possible by a generous gift from the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Foundation.

Synopsis

Nagasaki, Japan; late 19th century

Act I—A house overlooking the harbor

Goro, a marriage broker, introduces Lt. Pinkerton to the home and servants he has leased for the American naval officer and his bride, a young geisha called Butterfly. The American consul Sharpless arrives and warns Pinkerton not to take his commitment to Butterfly lightly. Butterfly and her companions arrive. Goro answers Pinkerton’s awkward question about the sword Butterfly’s father used to commit suicide. The marriage contract is signed. Butterfly’s uncle disrupts the celebration to curse her for leaving her religion and her family. Pinkerton instructs the servants to prepare the house for the evening. Finally alone, Pinkerton and Butterfly proclaim their love.

Act II—Three years later

The patient Butterfly reassures Suzuki that Pinkerton will return one day. Goro and Sharpless arrive. Goro introduces Prince Yamadori as a new suitor for Butterfly, but she refuses to consider the idea. When Goro and the prince have left, Sharpless reads Pinkerton’s letter and Butterfly brings in Pinkerton’s son. Deeply distressed, Sharpless leaves. Suzuki and Butterfly threaten Goro, who has been disparaging Butterfly’s son. They are interrupted by the sound of a cannon from Pinkerton’s ship in the harbor. Butterfly and Suzuki gather all the flowers in the garden, decorate the house, dress Butterfly in her wedding kimono, and prepare to keep vigil for Pinkerton’s arrival.

Act III—The next morning

Butterfly takes the child off to bed. Sharpless arrives with Lt. Pinkerton and his new wife, Kate. They ask Suzuki to help in securing a future for Pinkerton’s son. Pinkerton, full of remorse, runs off. When Butterfly sees Kate, she realizes why Pinkerton has come. She promises to hand over the child in half an hour. Kate and Sharpless leave. Butterfly sends her son off with Suzuki and produces her father’s sword. As she points the blade to her throat, Suzuki pushes the child into the room. Butterfly bids him a desperate farewell, blindfolds him, and seats him with his toys and an American flag. She stabs herself and Pinkerton’s voice is heard calling her name.

By Karl W. Hesser
© 2001, 2008 Florida Grand Opera; all rights reserved.