ROH: Madama Butterfly

‘Love cannot kill: it brings new life.’

On a starlit night in Nagasaki, these are the words spoken by American naval officer Pinkerton to young geisha Cio-Cio-San. But as they both learn, words and promises carelessly spoken can have indelible consequences.

With a score that includes Butterfly’s aria, 'Un bel dì, vedremo' (‘One fine day’) and the ‘Humming Chorus’, Giacomo Puccini’s opera is entrancing and ultimately heart-breaking. Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s exquisite production takes inspiration from 19th-century European images of Japan.

ACT I 

Lieutenant Pinkerton has negotiated with Goro, a marriage broker, to marry Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly). The wedding is about to take place and Pinkerton is inspecting the house that is included in the marriage contract. Goro introduces Pinkerton to the servants, who include Suzuki, Butterfly’s maid. Goro is describing to Pinkerton the form his wedding will take when Sharpless, the American Consul, arrives. He and Pinkerton drink a toast to America (Dovunque al mondo... America for ever). Sharpless asks Pinkerton if he is not merely infatuated with Butterfly; Pinkerton is unsure (Amore o grillo), but he wants to possess her even though he knows this may hurt
her. Sharpless fears for Butterfly’s future and tries to dissuade Pinkerton from marrying her. Pinkerton’s reply is to toast the ‘real’ American wife he will have one day. 

Goro returns to announce the approach of Butterfly and her friends (Quanto cielo! Quanto mar!). Sharpless asks Butterfly about her family. She says they fell on hard times and the women had to become geishas to support themselves; her mother is coming to the wedding but her father is dead. Officials and relations arrive. Butterfly shows Pinkerton her possessions except for the most sacred one. Goro tells Pinkerton what this is: a dagger given
by the Mikado to Butterfly’s father – an order to die by suicide, which he obeyed. Butterfly tells Pinkerton that for his sake she has become a Christian, but she has not told her family. 

The couple are married in a brief ceremony. The ensuing celebrations are interrupted by the Bonze, one of Butterfly’s uncles, who berates Butterfly because he has discovered she has turned her back on her religion. Her family join his curses and Pinkerton angrily orders everyone to leave. Alone with Butterfly, Pinkerton tries to comfort his bride and, as night falls, he leads her into the house (Viene la sera). 

INTERVAL 

ACT II 

Three years later, Pinkerton has been recalled to America. Butterfly and the faithful Suzuki are still living in the house. They have little money but Butterfly refuses to believe that Pinkerton has deserted her and tells Suzuki how he will return to her one fine day (Un bel dì). 

Sharpless arrives with Goro to say that he has had a letter from Pinkerton. So great is Butterfly’s excitement that he gets no opportunity to tell her the rest of Pinkerton’s message. She tells Sharpless of Goro’s attempts to marry her off to another suitor, and Sharpless watches while she fends off the latest of them, the wealthy Yamadori. Goro tells the men that Pinkerton’s ship is on the point of arriving, and Yamadori leaves. 

Sharpless attempts to read the rest of Pinkerton’s letter to Butterfly and tries to persuade her to accept Yamadori. Her answer is to bring in her child – Pinkerton’s child – of whose existence neither Sharpless nor Pinkerton had any knowledge. If Pinkerton deserted her, Butterfly would have two options 

– to become a beggar, or to die (Che tua madre). Sharpless, overcome with emotion, goes, promising to tell Pinkerton about his child. 

Suzuki drags in Goro, who has been spreading rumours in Nagasaki that Butterfly has a fatherless child. Butterfly’s anger 

with him evaporates. The harbour cannon is heard signalling the arrival of a ship. Butterfly recognizes it as Pinkerton’s. She decorates the house to celebrate his arrival and tells Suzuki to fill the room with flowers (Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio). Then she puts on her wedding dress to wait for her husband. 

ACT III 

At dawn the following day, Suzuki persuades Butterfly to
 sleep after her fruitless all-night vigil. Sharpless arrives at the house with Pinkerton and his American wife Kate. Suzuki tells Pinkerton of Butterfly’s fidelity and her happiness at his return. But Sharpless explains that he needs Suzuki to help them break the news to Butterfly that Pinkerton is married; together they must secure the child’s future (Io so che alle sue pene). Pinkerton gives Sharpless money for Butterfly and, unable to face her, leaves in distress (Addio, fiorito asil). It is left to Suzuki to tell Butterfly the truth. 

Kate Pinkerton asks whether she may take the child away so that he can be properly cared for. Butterfly, maintaining her dignity, replies that if Pinkerton returns to the house in half an hour she will give him the boy. When the visitors have left, she dismisses Suzuki and prepares herself for a ceremonial suicide. Suzuki pushes the child into the room, and Butterfly bids him goodbye (Tu? piccolo Iddio!); she then kills herself. Pinkerton is heard calling her name.