L. ILLICA & G. GIACOSA; R. H. ELKIN / GIACOMO PUCCINI OperaGlass Libretto

Madam Butterfly

A Japanese tragedy

Founded on the book by John L. Long and the drama by David Belasco

Italian libretto by L. Illica and G. Giacosa
English version by R. H. Elkin
music by Giacomo Puccini

N. B. The source for this libretto is the vocal score, arranged by Carlo Carignani, published by G. Ricordi & Co., © 1906, plate #111200, 279 pp. As all the stage instructions and introductory material in that edition are in English, they are so given in both the Italian and the English texts.

CHARACTERS

MADAM BUTTERFLY (Cho-Cho-San)Soprano
SUZUKI (Cho-Cho-San's Servant) Mezzo-Soprano
KATE PINKERTONMezzo-Soprano
B. F. PINKERTON (Lieutenant in the United States Navy)Tenor
SHARPLESS (United States Consul at Nagasaki)Baritone
GORO (a Marriage Broker)Tenor
PRINCE YAMADORIBaritone
THE BONZE (Cho-Cho-San's Uncle)Bass
YAKUSIDÉBaritone
THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONERBass
THE OFFICIAL REGISTRARBaritone*
CHO-CHO-SAN'S MOTHERMezzo-Soprano*
THE AUNTMezzo-Soprano*
THE COUSINSoprano*
TROUBLE (Cho-Cho-San's Child)—
*Members of the Chorus


Cho-Cho-San's Relations and Friends — Servants.

AT NAGASAKI. – PRESENT DAY

Italian Text

English Translation

Notes

contributed by Richard S Bogart and Mark D Lew

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29 Mar 2009