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Madame Butterfly

Introduction
Issued in 2011 as a Japanese theme, along with Gilbert and Sullivan’s comedy The Mikado. The play premiered in New York in 1900, then opened in London where it was seen by
Giacomo Puccini. His revised opera was a succcess in 1904 and is now one of the most frequently produced in the entire repertory.

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Hazle Ceramics
Madame Butterfly
Limited Painting of 30
on Northampton

 Dated 1885, C J Phipps designed the Royal Theatre in Northampton.

Poster by Chris McAllister

Madame Butterfly
This opera is different to many others, being intimate and devoid of spectacle. There is only one plot line - taking place solely in a Nagasaki house. Girl marries boy, girl loses boy, girl commits hara kiri. The characterisations of 15 year old Butterfly and her US Navy Captain Pinkerton make the drama work. When confronted with his new wife, the Butterfly gives up her son for Pinkerton to raise. She stabs herself to die with honour, rather than live in disgrace. The officer is then full of remorse. Puccini’s score of love and loss, hope and despair is the stuff of great operatic music.

UK/Europe £64.50
Rest of World £56.09

 1904 poster for Puccini’s opera. (PD-ART)

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 From her balcony Butterfly or Cio-Cio-San watches her husband’s ship finally returning, not knowing he has now has an American wife.

 Royal Court by Burnley, 2007.