Madama Butterfly

Dramatis Personæ

Madama Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San) (Soprano)
Suzuki, Cio-Cio-San's servant (Mezzo-Soprano)
Kate Pinkerton (Mezzo-Soprano)
B. F. Pinkerton, lieutenant in the United States Navy (Tenor)
Sharpless, United States consul at Nagasaki (Baritone)
Goro, a marriage broker (Tenor)
Prince Yamadori (Baritone)
The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San's uncle (Bass)
Yakusidé (Baritone)
The Imperial Commissioner (Bass)
The Official Registrar (Chorus Baritone)
Cio-Cio-San's Mother (Chorus Mezzo-Soprano)
The Aunt (Chorus Mezzo-Soprano)
The Cousin (Chorus Soprano)
Trouble, Cio-Cio-San's child (Mute)
Cio-Cio-San's relations and friends; servants

Setting: Nagasaki; the present day [c. 1900]

Plot Summary

Act I: Lt. Pinkerton marries Cio-Cio-San, a young geisha, in a ceremony she takes more seriously than he. She is denounced by her family for embracing his religion.
Act II. Part 1 (or Act II): Cio-Cio-San refuses to believe that Pinkerton has abandoned her, and Sharpless cannot bring himself to tell her the truth.
Act II. Part 2 (or Act III): Lt. and Mrs. Pinkerton return, prepared to adopt Cio-Cio-San's child; she kills herself.

Famous Passages

  1. Dovunque al mondo [Pinkerton: I]
  2. Amore o grillo [Pinkerton: I]
  3. Quanto cielo! quanto mar [Butterfly, Chorus: I]
  4. Io seguo il mio destino [Butterfly: I]
  5. Viene la sera (``Love duet'') [Butterfly, Pinkerton: I]
  6. Un bel dì, vedremo [Butterfly: II]
  7. Che tua madre [Butterfly: II]
  8. Tutti i fior... Tutta la primavera (``Flower duet'') [Butterfly, Suzuki: II]
  9. Addio fiorito asil [Pinkerton: III; revised versions only]
  10. Tu? tu?... piccolo Iddio! [Butterfly: III]


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2 Nov 2009