Madame Butterfly, the Betrayal: A Review of the Opera
Madame Butterfly is a popular opera that is written by Giacomo Puccini. You will want to bring your opera glasses to this opera. We are about to show you why.
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
The opera moves on, and we find that a wedding between Pinkerton and Butterfly is about to take place. Almost all of Butterfly’s family will be coming to attend, however her uncle will not be coming due to the fact that he is a priest.
Although Pinkerton is marrying Butterfly, his goal is to get the love of as many beautiful women as possible. This is the reason he wants to have the right to cancel the housing agreement each and every month. Soon you will want to put on your opera glasses to see the beautiful Butterfly.
Before you get to see Butterfly’s beauty, one final part of the opera plays through. The American Consul, who is with Pinkerton, asks him if he loves Madame Butterfly. A yes will not come out of the mouth of Pinkerton, nor could it, for Pinkerton, is simply infatuated with Butterfly’s innocence, beauty and charm. He does not love her. Pinkerton then begins to speak of one day having an American woman to wed.
We finally at this point see the beautiful and elegant Butterfly enters the stage. The wedding begins, and the beautiful Butterfly and uncommitted Pinkerton are wed. A party in honor of the event begins, again all members of the family are in attendance. All are enjoying the festivities when Butterfly’s uncle, the priest breaks into the party. He condemns butter fly for her abandonment of her own religion to join her now husbands religion, and curses her. At this, the party breaks up leaving Butterfly weeping uncontrollably.
Butterfly finally gets over the condemnation and curse that she received from her uncle, and remains happily married to her beloved Pinkerton. Weeks turn to months, and she can hardly contain her joy and love for the man of her dreams, she continues to fall more deeply in love with a man that does not love her back. Pinkerton one day receives notice that he is to go on duty as a naval officer; before he leaves he gives Butterfly money, and promises to return as soon as possible.
Act three opens, to find that three years have passed. Butterfly continues to watch ships coming in hoping every day to see the ship of her beloved husband, in all this time her love for him has only increased. One day she sees the American consul who she has known from the beginning as Pinkerton’s friend coming up the path to her home. Excitedly she greets him, hoping for news from her beloved. Unbeknownst to her, Pinkerton has asked him to go to Butterfly to tell her that he has wed another woman named Kate, and would not be coming back. Full of guilt the American gives the news.
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.
The story does not end here, but to find out the end of the story you will have to see Madame Butterfly for yourself. The costumes are sure to amaze, the music cannot be forgotten, and the story riveting. Make sure you don’t forget to bring your opera glasses so that you can fully enjoy every moment.
Jeff B. has always loved the theater and opera, he currently helps run an opera glasses retail site where they sell opera glasses. Including Opera Glasses with handle, flashlight, chain and more!
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