Friday, December 25, 2009

Madame Butterfly, the Betrayal: A Review of the Opera

By Jeff Bridges

Madame Butterfly is an opera written by Giacomo Puccini which is very popular. We strongly recommend opera glasses for this breathtaking opera. The reasons why are about to be shown to you.

Madame Butterfly is set in Nagasaki Japan, at the top of the hill one of our main characters, a United States Naval Officer named Pinkerton is inspecting a beautiful house with a wonderful view of the bay down below with a marriage broker by the name of Goro. Pinkerton is inspecting the home for him and his bride to be, Madame Butterfly. Upon finishing the inspection of the home, Pinkerton agrees to buy the home for 999 years, although he holds the right to cancel the agreement of the purchase during any month

As the Opera continues, we find that the wedding of Madame Butterfly and the Officer is soon to take place. Many of Butterfly's family will be flying in to attend the wedding, with one exception. Butterfly's uncle will not be attending as he is a priest.

The Officer is to marry Butterfly, but does not plan on this as being a lasting marriage. His ambition is to gain the love from every beautiful woman that he meets. Although he did agree to buy the house for 999 years, he chose retain the right to cancel, to be able to leave the home, and the marriage. At this point of the opera, you are about to meet the beautiful Butterfly. Be prepared to use your opera glasses to see her charm and beauty.

Before the Japanese beauty, Butterfly, enters the opera, the American consul comes out and asks Pinkerton if he truly loves his soon-to-be bride. Pinkerton cannot commit with a yes. He only describes how mesmerized he is by Butterfly's personality which includes innocence, beauty and charm. One day Pinkerton speaks of having a real marriage to an American woman.

The Beautiful Butterfly graces the stage; Butterfly and Pinkerton are married with all of Butterfly's family in attendance. As the celebration of the wedding continues, Butterfly's uncle, the priest breaks in to the party and condemns Butterfly for renouncing her religion to marry Pinkerton. Butterfly's heart breaks and finds herself in the arms of Pinkerton being comforted.

Time passes Pinkerton and Butterfly remain happily married. Butterfly on a daily basis nearly explodes with joy and love for her Pinkerton. Then one day Pinkerton finds that he has been deployed and must do a tour of duty. On the last morning he is with Butterfly he promises her that he will return with roses, when the robin builds his nest again.

The third act opens to see that three years have passed since Pinkerton left. Every day, Butterfly watches from her windows to see if Pinkerton's ship will come in. Butterfly has fallen even more in love with the missing man as the time has passed. One day, she sees a man walking up the path. She recognizes as the American Consul who is the friend of Pinkerton. She greets him, hoping for news from the love of her life. The truth of the matter is that Pinkerton has sent him to tell her that he has married another woman, and that he wont return. The news is given by the American guiltily.

Butterfly weeps as she hears the story of betrayal and leaves the room distraught. After a short moment she returns carrying a child, and reveals to the American Consul that it is Pinkerton's. She exclaims with all her heart that her husband could not possibly leave her wife and child for another. After further conversation with the Consul, she accepts that her husband was never truly hers.

What happens next, you will have to find out for yourself, by attending Madame Butterfly. The music in this opera is delightful as it is majestic, the attention to detail, and beauty of the costumes is unforgettable. Make sure you bring your opera glasses so that you can enjoy this opera to the fullest.

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