Flowing Japanese Fabrics of Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly is a relatively modern opera, set in Nagasaki in 1890. A deep tragedy of deception and betrayal, a young Geisha is married off to an American; and though deeply devoted to him, the American has no intention of being a husband to the girl.
Abandoned by husband and shunned by her people, Madama Butterfly is 'stuck by a pin, and mounted on a board.' Unable to overcome her dishonour, she is forced to commit jigai. This compelling story is one of the best I've seen on the COC stage, and we've got a pair of tickets to pass on to one lucky reader.
This performance of Madama Butterfly featured a particularly powerful vocal cast, with David Pomeroy playing Pinkerton, the pompous American. I'd seen him perform in La Boheme last season, and he marvelously eclipsed the delicacy of the chorus in this opera score.
The voice of Cio-cio-san, or Madama Butterfly, was impressively potent as the tragic lead; but was maybe too powerful for the role of a 15 year old girl. Vocally speaking, I'm sure it's difficult to portray the sense of both young innocence and jaded experience at once.
My favourite characters overall were actually supporting roles: Sharpless, the U.S. Consul, and Goro, the marriage broker. Besides having some of the funnier punch lines at lighter moments in the opera, they both had very specific timing cues to follow; this added greatly to the flow of movement on the set, especially as they moved alongside set changes while singing off stage.
The set and costuming was the absolute mark of Susan Benson's intelligent design, inspired by Japanese simplicity and balance. Tall shoji screens and flowing kimono fabrics moved with absolutely ease, dancing around the stage amongst the cast members. It was an amazingly well-choreographed performance.
If Madama Butterfy is any indication, this year's COC season seems to be stepping up its game; focusing less on kitschy effects and more on the show's overall harmony and cohesion.
I highly recommend seeing this performance in its limited 15 performance run, and here's how you can go... on us!
Contest:
To win a pair of tickets to the Wednesday October 14th, 7:30pm performance of Madama Butterfly, simply post a comment below by noon on October 5th.
One winner will be randomly selected from the comments to win a pair of tickets (value $136). Please make sure to leave a valid email address in the appropriate form field so we can contact you for prize claim details.
Oh, and if you're looking for something to check out tonight, the Opera 101 interactive series takes place at the Four Seasons Centre starting at 7:30pm. Opera 101, which used to be held at the Drake, is a great introduction to opera and a chance to learn about some of the people involved in these lavish COC productions.
Comments (55)
"And then my heart stopped listening to Cio-Cio San fall in love all over again..."
I'm a weezer fan, my wife is an opera fan. Need to see this, badly.
- Ian
I could listen to "un bel di vedremo levarsi un fil di fumo" on repeat for the rest of my life and be happy. So beautiful and powerful. R
to be honest i didn't know how this opera ended until i read the post. d'oh! oh well. would still be nice to see it.
Although my social Japanese is strong, I actually end up seeing more Japanese entertainment since I moved back to Toronto (specifically cinema with English subtitles). But one thing that rated high on my expectations when returning, was to see more live performances again, as Japan is prohibitively expensive for live shows.
It was after reading Anne Patchett's Bel Canto that I decided to learn and experience more opera. In her interview on PBS.org, she says "it's all about beauty. It's all about the call to some higher form of life and existence." It seems to me that when we are going through rough patches in our life, opera is good medicine.
I've never been to this opera (or any other opera - I know, shameful) but I've heard so many amazing things from my grandmother about it. She would hum the arias around the house... :)
This sounds like an emotionally compelling story. I've yet to watch an opera [unless you count Phantom of the Opera... in Gr6]. I'd definitely want to watch this.
One of my childhood colouring books was 'Madame Butterfly'. I loved colouring in CioCio-sans' various kimono, but was really disturbed by the story. Even as a 6 year old I felt pretty stabby towards the end. Pinkerton! You're a dickwad!
Wow, what an amazing story! I would love to see this in person. I have not experienced Opera before and this would be wonderful see.
Since I can't make it to Nuit Blanche, opera tickets would help ratchet up my culture content for Fall 09.
Madame Butterfly is the reason I fell in love with Opera in the first place, I would love to see this in Toronto.
I see I'm not the only one with a Weezer-inspired Madama Butterfly affinity still lingering from my youth....
I've been meaning to go see an opera since moving to Toronto 2.5 years ago and haven't done it yet. I like how they seem to do so much Puccini, so this would be great to see.
Haha, I saw this on Wednesday. I hope I win and make everyone jealous, though of course I do want to see it again.
I would love to go see Madama Butterfly because there are so many layers to this opera. It beautifully illustrates the difference between eastern and western culture and the roles of men and women in society. I have read the play in school and would love a chance to go see it. It also strikes a personal chord with me because I am asian and my ex-fiance started seeing a caucasian girl after broke up.
I didn't discover the Opera until 3 years ago. Madama Butterfly is on the top of my list "must-see's". Would love to see it at the COC.
Men are pigs in pretty much all cultures, but each culture and time gives them a different costume and social choreography with which to display their pigdom. Butterfly is exceptionally evocative, with the passion and depth of its music and libretto. Pinkerton's pigdom is dwarfed by the ascendant majesty of Cio Cio San's humble fidelity. I can't wait to see it again.
Don't worry, you'll meet a nice white guy soon who will treat you like a princess...but always beware the pig!
I love Madama Butterfly, and I've wanted to see it live for a while now (I've seen it on dvd).
Have heard really good things about the COC production!
"un Bel Di Vedremo" is one of the most beautiful arias ever written. To see it performed live would be a lifetime experience.
Thank you to everyone for reading and commenting on this review... I will have a contest winner posted shortly! :)
Congrats to Linda, who was been contacted and is going to see Madama Butterfly courtesy of blogTO and the COC - thanks to everyone who entered; stay tuned to blogTO for other goodies :)
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