Overview
Synopsis
This tragic tale revolves around the young Japanese geisha, Cio-Cio San. She is to be married to Benjamin Pinkerton, an American Officer on assignment in Nagasaki. Cio-Cio San is young, naive, and totally in love with Pinkerton; who gives her the pet name 'Butterfly'. She believes she has married the man of her dreams, and is committed to being with him forever, despite the warnings from her family that he is likely to leave her and return to America. Her family are right to be worried, as Pinkerton openly expresses his intention to marry an American when he returns home, and even leaves a clause in his wedding vows with Cio-Cio San.
For three years, Butterfly waits for Pinkerton to return, and cares for their son. Finally, she sees his ship approaching the harbor, but it is not the happy reunion Butterfly expected. Pinkerton has returned with his new American wife, intending to take his son back to America. Butterfly agrees to give up her child, but rather than live with the shame, she decides to kill herself and protect her honor.
Show Information
- Music
- Giacomo Puccini
- Libretto
- Luigi Illica , Giuseppe Giacosa
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Madame Chrysantheme by Pierre Loti
- Category
- Opera
- Age Guidance
- Thirteen Plus (PG-13)
- Number of Acts
- 3
- First Produced
- 1904
- Genres
- Drama, Tragedy
- Settings
- Period, Unit/Single Set
- Time & Place
- Nagasaki, Japan, 20th century
- Cast Size
- large
- Orchestra Size
- Large
- Dancing
- None
- Licensor
- None/royalty-free
- Ideal For
- Professional Opera, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Mostly Male Cast, Includes Adult, Mature Adult, Young Adult, Elderly, Child, Late Teen Characters, Large Cast
Context
The story of Madama Butterfly, written by John Luther Long, on which the libretto for this opera based, was originally inspired by the 1887 novel Madame Chrysantheme by Pierre Loti. It was then further adapted from Long's short story, to a play by David Belasco, which Puccini saw in London in 1900. From this, Puccini was inspired to create his opera.
The actual creation of the opera was about as smooth as its origins, and Puccini wrote five different versions. The premiere, at La Scala in
to read the context for Madama Butterfly and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Plot
Act I
In Nagasaki, Japan, the U.S. Naval Officer, Benjamin Pinkerton, is finalising the details for a lease on a house for him and his wife-to-be, Cio-Cio San. The lease, and the wedding, are being arranged by Goro, the marriage broker.
While they are waiting for the arrangements to be completed, Pinkerton reveals to his friend Sharpless, the U.S. Consul, that he knows lots of American men who have done the same thing he is doing, all over the world (['Dovunque al
to read the plot for Madama Butterfly and to unlock other amazing theatre resources!Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass, Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Bass |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Silent |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Contralto, Tenor, Baritone, Bass |
Songs
Act One
- 'E soffitto e pareti' - Pinkerton, Goro
- 'Questa è la cameriera' - Goro, Pinkerton, Suzuki
- 'Che guardi? ... Se non giunge ancor la sposa' - Pinkerton, Goro, Sharpless
- 'Dovunque al mondo' - Pinkerton, Sharpless, Goro
- 'Quale smania vi prende?' - Sharpless, Pinkerton
- 'Ecco! Son giunte al sommo del pendio' - Goro, Chorus, Butterfly, Sharpless
- 'Gran ventura' - Butterfly, Chorus, Pinkerton, Sharpless, Goro
- 'L'imperial commissario' - Goro, Pinkerton, Chorus, Butterfly, Sharpless
- 'Vieni, amor mio!' - Pinkerton, Butterfly, Goro
- 'Ieri son salita tutta sola' - Butterfly
- 'Tutti zitti! ... È concesso al nominato' - Goro, Commissioner, Chorus, Butterfly, Pinkerton, Sharpless, Official Registrar
- 'Ed eccoci in famiglia' - Pinkerton, Chorus, Bonze, Butterfly, Suzuki
- 'Bimba, bimba, non piangere' - Pinkerton, Chorus, Butterfly, Suzuki
- 'Viene la sera' - Pinkerton, Butterfly, Suzuki
- 'Quest'obi pomposa' - Butterfly, Pinkerton
- 'Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia' - Pinkerton, Butterfly
- 'Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino' - Butterfly, Pinkerton
- 'Vieni, vieni!' - Pinkerton, Butterfly
Act Two
- 'E Izaghi ed Izanami' - Suzuki, Butterfly
- 'Suzuki, è lungi la miseria?' - Butterfly, Suzuki
- 'Un bel dì vedremo' - Butterfly
- 'C'è. Entrate' - Goro, Sharpless, Butterfly
- 'Ah sì. Goro, appena B.F. Pinkerton fu in mare' - Butterfly, Goro, Yamadori, Sharpless
- 'Si sa che aprir la porta' - Butterfly, Sharpless, Yamadori, Goro
- 'Ora a noi' - Sharpless, Butterfly
- 'Qui troncarla conviene' - Sharpless, Butterfly
- 'E questo? E questo?' - Butterfly, Sharpless
- 'Che tua madre dovrà' - Butterfly, Sharpless
- 'lo scendo al piano' - Sharpless, Butterfly
- 'Vespa! Rospo maledetto!' - Suzuki, Butterfly, Goro
- 'Una nave da guerra' - Suzuki, Butterfly
- 'Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio' Butterfly, Suzuki
- 'Or vienmi ad adornar' - Butterfly, Suzuki
- Coro a bocca chiusa (The Humming Chorus) - Chorus
Act Three
- 'Introduzione ... Oh eh! Oh eh! Oh eh!'- Chorus
- 'Già il sole!' - Suzuki, Butterfly
- 'Chi sia? Oh! ... Zitta! Zitta!' - Suzuki, Pinkerton, Sharpless
- 'Io so che alle sue pene'- Sharpless, Pinkerton, Suzuki
- 'Addio, fiorito asil' - Pinkerton, Sharpless
- 'Glielo dirai?' - Kate, Suzuki, Butterfly
- 'Tu, Suzuki, che sei tanto buona' - Butterfly, Suzuki, Sharpless, Kate
- 'Come una mosca prigioniera' - Suzuki, Butterfly
- 'Con onor muore’ - Butterfly
- ‘Tu, tu, piccolo Iddio!’ - Butterfly
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
Sorry! We do not currently have terms for this guide.
Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Quote Analysis
Sorry! We do not currently have learning modules for this guide.
Guide Written By:
Wendy Silvester
Singer and vocal coach based in the UK.