Madama Butterfly - inescapably gripping

What can possibly compete with the super-bowl for your attention? The inescapably gripping tragedy of a young woman who is robbed of her social position, her husband, her son, virtually everything… except her dignity.

(Photo by Duane Morris courtesy of the Portland Opera)

I attended the sold-out performance of Madame Butterfly by the Portland Opera on Sunday, February 5th at 2 pm. I found it very uplifting to see the large crowd in the face of the compelling option of the Superbowl being available at the same time.
There was not a dry eye in the entire house during the third act when Cio-Cio San sings “Con onor muore” as she comes to grips with losing her only son in order for him to have a better life in America. I confess I myself was moved to tears.
For those of you that don’t know the plot, the short version is that Cio-Cio San is married off very young to an American who abandons her to take a wife back home, then returns only to momentarily raise Cio-Cio San’s hopes that he has
come back to her, only to finally dash her hopes completely when Cio-Cio San meets his American wife and then makes the ultimate sacrifice as she agrees to send her half-American son back to America.
After the performance there was a Q&A. A patron told Mr. Mattaliano, the General Director, that it was her first time ever seeing an opera and it had more than lived up to her expectations. His response sums up why this particular opera is a great choice for anyone new to opera, “The story of Madame Butterfly is profoundly truthful. Not only does it have a glorious melody, but it touches our soul”.
Here is a “sneak peak” video clip from the dress rehearsal that should give you a good idea of what the opera is like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-g5hFNAJuJc&feature=player_embedded
Additional related material, including this video link is available on the Portland Opera site:
http://www.portlandopera.org/operas/2011-2012/madame-butterfly#videos
This particular performance was based on the 3rd revision, which is currently the mostly commonly performed version of
the opera. It is based on the more popular three act format of the opera that I mentioned in my first article on this subject (http://blog.madeinitalymall.com/post/16674571857/puccini-something-for-everyone)
If you haven’t made it to the opera yet this season, hopefully I have given you a taste of the fantastic experience that awaits you.

Ci vediamo all’opera!
Lina