Madam Butterfly - Royal Albert Hall

Follwoing 2 sell out runs of Madam Butterfly, James is back singing the lead tenor role, Pinkerton in this must see production. This will make James' 30th performance in this role. 

 

 

Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Conductor Oliver Gooch

Director David Freeman
Designer David Roger
Musical Director Oliver Gooch
Lighting Design Andrew Bridge
Sound Design Bobby Aitken
English Translation Amanda Holden

 

The role of the young Japanese bride, Cio Cio San will be shared by Nam-Young Kim, Hyeseoung Kwon and Myung-Joo Lee, opposite Jeffrey Gwaltney, James Edwards and Mario Sofroniou in the role of American naval lieutenant, Pinkerton. Sabina Kim, Catherine Hopper and Marcia Bellamy will play Suzuki, with David Kempster, Wyn Pencarreg and James Cleverton as Sharpless.

Goro, a Japanese marriage broker, is showing Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, of the United States Navy, around a little house on the outskirts of Nagasaki. Pinkerton has taken it for himself and his geisha bride, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madam Butterfly. Goro introduces Pinkerton to Butterfly's maid, Suzuki, and her other two servants.

The American Consul, Sharpless, arrives. Over a drink Pinkerton explains that he has taken out a 999-year lease on the property, renewable by the month, which suits his carefree, adventurous way of life. Sharpless is concerned for Butterfly; he fears that Pinkerton is not taking his marriage as seriously as she is. Pinkerton tells him not to fuss and, though he is clearly besotted with the whole situation, he joins Sharpless in a toast to the folks back home, and drinks to the day when he will marry an American girl.
The bride's party approaches and makes a formal entrance. When Sharpless asks Butterfly about her background, he is shocked to find that she is only fifteen. The family's chattering and gossiping irritates the impatient Pinkerton. Butterfly shows him her few personal belongings, including the dagger with which her father committed hara-kiri, and explains that she has secretly given up her religion in order to become a Christian. After the brief marriage ceremony, and as Pinkerton is reluctantly leading the celebrations, Butterfly's uncle The Bonze, a Shinto priest, interrupts. He has heard that Butterfly has given up their traditional religion and furiously disowns her, supported by her other relations who renounce her and leave. Butterfly is left in tears. As night falls, Pinkerton affectionately calms Butterfly's fears while congratulating himself on his conquest.
INTERVAL
ACT II
It is three years since Pinkerton left and Butterfly is in danger of starving. Nevertheless she has convinced herself that her husband will return and tells Suzuki not to lose hope.
Sharpless makes a surprise visit; he received a letter from Pinkerton with the news that he will soon be arriving in Nagasaki with his American wife. Sharpless tries to break this news to Butterfly, but she won't listen and instead tells Sharpless how she has refused all attempts by Goro to persuade her to take a Japanese husband. Indeed a rich suitor, Prince Yamadori, appears and is sent packing by Butterfly who insists that she is still married to Pinkerton.
When Goro tells Sharpless that Pinkerton's ship has already been sighted, Sharpless makes a last attempt to read Pinkerton's letter, then asks Butterfly to consider the possibility that Pinkerton will not return to her. Enraged and hurt, she defiantly introduces him to her child, whose name will change from Sorrow to Joy when his daddy returns. Sharpless realises that the situation is hopeless.
A cannon shot sounds from the harbour and Butterfly triumphantly watches Pinkerton's ship arriving, just as she had imagined it would. With Suzuki's help she fills the house with flowers and prepares herself to receive him. She sits up through the night awaiting his arrival.
ACT III
As dawn breaks Suzuki suggests Butterfly should rest. Sharpless arrives with Pinkerton and his new wife, Kate, who waits at a discreet distance. Sharpless asks Suzuki to help persuade Butterfly to give up the child; Pinkerton and his wife will take the boy away to America and to a better future. When Pinkerton realises what grief he has caused he leaves remorsefully, unable to face Butterfly.
Butterfly awakes distraught, convinced that Pinkerton has been in the house. When she sees Kate in the garden, the truth that she has for so long refused to consider strikes home. She agrees to give up the boy, if Pinkerton will come to collect him. She bids her child farewell and stabs herself to death with her father's dagger just as Pinkerton arrives.
© Amanda Holden