I love Puccini Madama Butterfly Patricia Racette
I wasn't going to write a review but after reading some of the "bad" reviews here, figured I would put in my two cents. In my opinion, this is will probably be "the" Madama Butterfly against which future productions of this opera will be rated against. I have to say I am not a huge fan of minimalist productions, but sometimes they work and sometimes they dont. My biggest problem is when those productions take liberties with the libretto in order to make it fit. This production though I must say it worked perfectly. How can you not be moved when they were singing the love duet at the end of the first act! All I kept thinking was God I need to go to New York and see this live!!. I do have to say that for all her popularity - Patricia Racette might not be "the" best Butterfly ever vocally, but she was not as awful as some reviewer here makes her out to be. You do have to admit her acting was incredible, which is more than you can say for some singers these day that feel that all they need to get by on the opera stage is hit a few high notes and look pretty while doing it. One thing I must mention and this holds true of any telecast. What looks good on the stage while you are sitting a few feet away from it, does not necessarily look good close up. When they decide to tape these performances, they need to have some sort of rehearsal and make changes or study screen shots. No matter how good these are, there are instances when the camera comes too close for comfort and it is not a pretty sight!!
Get your Puccini Madama Butterfly Patricia Racette Now!
ReplyDeleteThis is one of those opera videos that works on all levels, and because it is very hard to achieve that with this particular opera, and also because this is a very touching piece when delivered well as it is here, I highly recommend the video.
ReplyDeleteButterfly is supposed to be small but her voice must be largish, so it's always a bit of a trick to get this opera to both look and sound right. Patricia Racette is wonderful as Butterfly. Her voice is easy to hear with a nice squillo - she never sounds pushed or fatigued all the way to the end. She is strong throughout all her registers. She looks small enough and her costumes help in adding a small look to her. The Suzuki, Maria Zifchak, is wonderful. Giordani as Pinkerton is in good voice, and he strikes a very handsome officer. Croft is in good enough voice to execute Sharpless without problem.
The puppets are wonderful. You generally have a real little boy playing the child and he's usually a bit out of place because there is quite a bit of stage-time but nothing for him to do as he is never a trained actor. But these skilled puppeteers have the little boy moving about displaying emotions by the movement of the puppet's body that is completely enchanting, and the child's emotions add rather than detract from the drama.
The second puppet is a representation of Butterfly dancing with a real human dancer representing Pinkerton in a short ballet. (Yes, the puppets are so charming, they can make a ballet in an opera seem too short. Hopefully, the 'Butterfly' puppet will get larger roles as her career blossoms. ;0) )
The sets are nice and so are the costumes. Butterfly and Pinkerton could not be made to look better. The costumes completely compliment all the main singers. It's just a great show, but be prepared to shed a tear or two.
The first performance of Butterfly was a failure at its premiere at La Scala in 1904, even though it had Storchio as Butterfly,Toscanni's lover at the time. The youthful Zenatello as Pinkerton and De Luca as Sharpless. A dream cast. The problem was that Butterfly was devided into two long acts. Also, many people in Milan wanted Puccini to fail. He was not their favourite composer and getting too big for his pants they thought. When the curtain finally fell there was total silence. Toscanni had predicted such a failure when he saw the score at Storchio's home. He had left La Scala by this time because the audience were too noisy. Puccini withdrew the opera, changed parts of the opera and divided the opera into three acts. Three months later Butterfly was presented at Brescia,between Milan and Turin. Butterfly was Salomea Kruszeinicka with a deeper voice. The other principal singers and conductor were the same. The success the opera received was due to the changes and a more open minded audience. Puccini fiddled with the opera until 1906, when Butterfly had its premiere at the Paris opera-Comique. Albert Carre, director of the opera Comique wanted changes to suit his bourgeois audience. This 1906 version is the one we hear today. Madama Butterfly was converted from a Japanese tragedy, to a Melodrama. In the original version of 1904,from the moment the child is born, he is the reason for Butterfly's existence,the reason for her independence. In the final scene, after she bids farewell to the child, she wilfully commits suicide as befits the dignity of the daughter of a Samurai. Only by her death can Butterfly give her child to the Pinkerton's , because the maternal bond is too strong. This is a part of her destiny, the path she has followed and what has been delivered to her. She was not a victim as she became in the 1906 version. But this 1906 version as well as the 1904 version conforms to Puccini's wish" I shall make you weep" The 1904 La Scala Version can be found on Vox classics, conductor, Rosekrans with the Hungarian State opera house orchestra. The Butterfly is Maria Spacagna. You can programme the Brescia and 1906 Paris version to play as well from these 4 CD's.Also, included is the original texts. You might be interested in hearing the original 1904 singers, Storchio, Zenatello and De Luca,also Kruszeinicka on CD. EMI Classics Vol 1,1878-1914,La Scala edition. Also, EMI, Les introuvables du chant Verdien. (Rarities of Verdi Singers). I believe it is wise to know your history, so you can understand the present.
ReplyDeleteThe current Butterfly is produced at the Sferisterio opera Festival Macerata This open air stadium was opened in 1829 as a home for Italian handball game, but used as a music venue since the 1920's. Pier Luigi Pizzi is the Stage Director,set and Costume designer. The production is traditional with its pretty little Japanese House, blossom covered cherry tree and silk kimonos. Many of Pinkertons less likeable characteristics are shown. His thoughtless juggling of the statues of Buddha, and his doling out dollar bills to show money can buy you love. The Fondazione Orchestra Regionala delle marche is conducted by Daniele Callegari. The music is swift and captures the emotion and sadness in this piece. Bravo. One of Italy's favourite Butterfly's is singing the part, Raffaella Angeletti, who has deep chest notes, more like a Kruszelinicka ,then a Storchio. She captures the emotional impulse. My stiff upper lip dropped for a while, I was almost in tears at the end.Puccini, you got me. Suzuki is Annunziata Vestri the mezzo, who is marvellous. Sharpless is Pisapia. Strong voice. The rest of the cast is equally fine. I think the reason why this opera succeeds, is because the orchestra, director and much of the cast are Italian. If you like Italian opera and Puccini, this is a must for your Blu Ray collection.This review is by a person who also likes Modern productions.This opera is traditionally staged. Worldwide, filmed in HD.
I wasn't going to write a review but after reading some of the "bad" reviews here, figured I would put in my two cents. In my opinion, this is will probably be "the" Madama Butterfly against which future productions of this opera will be rated against. I have to say I am not a huge fan of minimalist productions, but sometimes they work and sometimes they dont. My biggest problem is when those productions take liberties with the libretto in order to make it fit. This production though I must say it worked perfectly. How can you not be moved when they were singing the love duet at the end of the first act! All I kept thinking was God I need to go to New York and see this live!!. I do have to say that for all her popularity - Patricia Racette might not be "the" best Butterfly ever vocally, but she was not as awful as some reviewer here makes her out to be. You do have to admit her acting was incredible, which is more than you can say for some singers these day that feel that all they need to get by on the opera stage is hit a few high notes and look pretty while doing it. One thing I must mention and this holds true of any telecast. What looks good on the stage while you are sitting a few feet away from it, does not necessarily look good close up. When they decide to tape these performances, they need to have some sort of rehearsal and make changes or study screen shots. No matter how good these are, there are instances when the camera comes too close for comfort and it is not a pretty sight!!
ReplyDeleteI thought this was the best version I have seen. The mixture of the Japanese art forms was breathtaking and added a dimension of art that I found captivating! I LOVED IT!! I am so glad that they have made this version available for sale so that I can see it over and over again, and share it with family and friends.
ReplyDelete