It often happens that a good literary work dies when it is just born. But sometimes more than one century continues to live, finding more and more new ways of realization: in cinema, music, theater. So it happened with the little novel of the American J.L. Long. The characters "Madame Butterfly" were so tenacious that with dignity they stood the test of time.
Where did the story begin
At the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, the world was governed by a fashion for everything oriental, so a small short story created and published in the journal by the American writer J.L. Long came to the taste not only of readers, but also of playwright David Belasco. Based on this small work, he wrote the play "Geisha", which became interested in the troupe of the Prince of York Theater in London.
The staged performance was a success with the audience, therefore it was it that the Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini chose for viewing. “Madame Butterfly” (by the way, the play was called “Geisha” at that time) was so liked by the genius of music, who was looking for a plot for his next work, that he immediately took up the realization of the idea.
A lingering dream
Excited by history, Giacomo Puccini turned to the best librettists of the time, who were considered L. Illika and J. Giacosa. They also liked the idea, however, the end result was long in coming. The composer himself was to blame for this, who quite often went on tours or rehearsals, not only to different cities of Italy, but also to foreign voyages.
Did not contribute to the rapid writing of music and another passion of J. Puccini - cars. Buying a car turned a hot Italian into a real racing driver who drove along the roads of the country without monitoring the speed. However, the accident, in which he was in the midst of work on the opera, slightly cooled his ardor. A broken leg became a serious argument to behave much more carefully while driving. But, despite the delays, in 1903 the libretto of the opera Madame Butterfly was ready.
To make his work as truthful as possible, the composer studied Japanese culture and was a frequent guest in the Roman house of the Ambassador of Japan. His wife, Madame Okiyama, was pleased to play ancient national melodies.
Failed premiere
On February 17, 1904, the Puccini brainchild was presented to the audience at the La Scala Theater in Milan. The main part was performed by Rosina Strokio (soprano). The company was made up of her tenor Giovanni Zenatello (Lieutenant Pinkerton). Despite the fact that the characters of Madame Butterfly were vivid and realistic, the audience was surprisingly ungrateful, booing the premiere. And on the second day, newspaper strips were filled with devastating articles by critics.
The composer was suppressed, but refused to admit his idea failed. He believed that his opera would be successful, writing in a message to C. Bendy: “In the end, you will see - the victory will be mine!” Giacomo Puccini listens to the advice of friends and critics. He removes some scenes, divides the second act into two separate acts and invites the Ukrainian opera diva Solomiya Krushelnytska to play the main role. The libretto "Madame Butterfly" began to sparkle with new colors. The audience, gathered in the Grande Theater (Brescia) on May 28, 1904, enthusiastically greeted the work. The composer was repeatedly called to bow.
The tragedy of a woman in love
The opera develops at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries in Nagasaki. This story is about how the young geisha Chio-Cio-san, who was called Butterfly (butterfly) for her beauty and grace, fell in love with the US Navy lieutenant Pinkerton. Her feeling was so strong that, contrary to the traditions of her people, she marries him. True, the stupid Butterfly does not even realize that for her chosen one this marriage is only entertainment, he does not take it seriously.
The story of Madame Butterfly is a tragedy of the contact of two worlds: western and eastern, male and female. The civilized person actually turned out to be a barbarian who does not consider the spoken words of the vow sacred, therefore easily breaks them. But for the bearer of ancient traditions (which western people seem wild enough), the words “union”, “fidelity”, “love” weigh more than life. That is why sincere feelings turned into a tragedy for her.
The main characters of "Madame Butterfly"
- Cio-Cio-san is a beautiful woman of the East. She is a representative of an ancient profession in Japan - a geisha. But, despite the apparent fragility, Butterfly showed unprecedented stamina, following its principles to the end.
- Lieutenant Benjamin Pinkerton is an American sailor who, without hesitation, agreed to marry a Japanese beauty, but perceived him as a pleasant addition to the service. His feelings were not deep, which is why he easily terminated the union to marry a compatriot.
- Sharpless is an American consul. This is a decent older man who, from the first day he met, worried about Madame Butterfly and hoped that Pinkerton would not offend her. His character is soft, cheerful. The lieutenant's views on life seem to him rather superficial.
- Suzuki is a faithful butterfly servant. It has a lively disposition and exorbitant talkativeness, which annoys Pinkerton. She tried to save the lady from suicide, but she did not succeed.
- Goro is a local matchmaker. It was he who found the “temporary wife” for the lieutenant, and after trying to bring Butterfly to the prince, but received a decisive refusal.
These are the key characters in the opera Madame Butterfly, the content of which is focused on their experiences. Characters that appear on the scene infrequently include: Uncle Bonza (curses Butterfly for her desire to change the religion of her ancestors), Prince Yamadori (asks for Cio-Cio-san's hands after Pinkerton's betrayal), Dolore (son of a lieutenant and a geisha), Kate (wife Benjamin).
Opera "Madame Butterfly". The content of the first act
The action takes place in the new home of Lieutenant Pinkerton, which he rented. Benjamin is completely satisfied with his life: he has just married a charming Japanese geisha. Unburdened with moral principles, he chuckles at the warnings of the consul Sharpless: not to break the girl’s heart.
Then comes the acquaintance of the bride and groom. Cio-Cio-san tells the lieutenant about himself, about his kimono, in the sleeve of which she wears "the souls of her ancestors", confesses love to her chosen one and promises to change religion for him.
The marriage ceremony is interrupted by the visit of Uncle Butterfly, who curses the niece for being ready to renounce the faith of her ancestors because of the man. The wedding is hopelessly spoiled, all the guests and relatives of the bride are removed. An upset newly-made wife calms down only in the arms of her husband.
The second act. Action one
Three years have passed. Pinkerton threw his Madame Butterfly. The content of the first action is fully concentrated on the main character. Suzuki's maid is trying to convince Madam that her husband abandoned her forever. Resentment Cio-Cio-san spills out the famous aria "On a clear day welcome", which sounds the hope that a loved one will return.
Consul Sharpless arrives at Butterfly House with a letter stating that Benjamin was married in America. Their conversation is interrupted by the appearance of Goro and Prince Yamadori, who wants to marry Butterfly. Having been refused, visitors are removed. Sharpless advises accepting the prince's offer and reports that Pinkerton is married. The woman’s first thought is suicide, but she pulls herself together and asks the consul to inform her husband about her son.
After some time, an American ship enters the harbor. Cio-Cio-san knows that he is loved. She dresses up, decorates the house and waits for him, but he does not appear either in the evening or at night.
Action two
The characters “Madame Butterfly” in the final part of the opera turned out to be very emotional. Pinkerton and Sharpless came to visit Cio-Cio-san. Benjamin's wife stayed in the garden. The maid first guessed everything, and the lieutenant, seeing her tears, runs away so as not to participate in the scene.
Entering Butterfly instantly understood everything. The consul tells her that Pinkerton’s legal wife agrees to bring up their child. The butterfly understands that there is no way out, and asks her husband to come after an hour for the child. This time is enough for her to commit suicide.
During the preparatory prayer of the lady, the servant pushes her son into the room, hoping that this will stop her. Handing the child a toy and blindfolding him, Cio-Cio-san stabs himself behind a screen. When Pinkerton and Sharpless appeared in the room, the unfortunate Butterfly had the strength to just point her hand at their son.
Immortality of the Opera
This work became the main brainchild of J. Puccini. “Madame Butterfly” was appreciated not only by the Italian public, but also by foreign music fans. There was not a single failed opera production. The composer turned out to be absolutely right when he decided to breathe a second life into his creation, changing its structure and inviting the incomparable Solomiya Krushelnitskaya to play the main part.
Residents of France, England, Russia, the USA, Argentina and many other countries still enjoy going to the theater, seeing the name of the opera on posters. They empathize with the unfortunate Chio-Cio-san, are angry at Pinkerton, worry about the fate of the baby. Each opera singer considers it an honor to play the part of the legendary Japanese Butterfly, which was destroyed by love for an unworthy person.
Giacomo Puccini created a real masterpiece that gained immortality on the stage. Madame Butterfly is still considered one of the best operas in the world.