Madam Butterfly - Puccini

[motodraconis]

My opera-loving co-worker had told me I would be in for a treat with this production...


And he was not wrong. Surprisingly, you actually get a great view from the higher seats, and right from the opening moments of the opera, the sets, lighting and visuals were utterly stunning, beginning with poised and elegant dancers...



Vivid costumes...



Traditional Japanese puppetry...



And of course some quality music and singing...



I was mildly annoyed by a bawling toddler at the beginning. (Who takes a toddler to the opera?) But thankfully they shut up or were removed, and by the end of the first act I was blown away.



I had not read the story before going (I rarely - if ever, read up on the plot beforehand) but I did not expect Pinkerton to come across as so obnoxious from the very beginning. You know Butterfly is going to be messed around and feel truly sorry for her from the start.



By the second act, when she is abandoned with her small child, you feel pangs... and all around me, I could hear men and women sniffing.



Suffice to say, it ends badly for Butterfly.



Uggghn! Ugggnh! What can I say. You really should go and see this, even if you think you won't like opera, though it's probably sold out by now. I came out traumatized (in a good way) and have been obsessing about it ever since. It's a real beauty - just look at these clips...

All photos taken from the ENO website.