On Feb. 22, theLondon City Opera Company visited the Staller Center and performed MadamButterfly, a poignantlove story of a U.S Navy Lieutenant and a young geisha girl. While serving inNagasaki, Lieutenant Pinkerton arranges to marry Butterfly, a 15-year-old geishagirl. He signs a contract to marry her for 999 years; but the contract can becancelled at any time.
For Pinkerton,the marriage is a game, something to pass the time while he is in service. ToButterfly, the marriage is forever. In an attempt to please her new Americanhusband, Butterfly renounces her ancestral religion and becomes a Christian.When her family finds out, they disown her. She finds happiness only in her newmarriage, and hopes for better times in the future.’
Once his time inservice is over, Pinkerton returns to the U.S. He tells Butterfly that he willreturn someday. She waits three long years in misery, disowned by her familyand fearful of what the future will hold. Her only solace rests in her hopethat Pinkerton will keep his promise and return to her one day. Other suitorscome and ask for her hand in marriage, but she turns all of them away becauseof her faith in her American husband. ‘
Pinkerton sendsa letter to the American Consulate and asks him to break the news to Butterflythat he has an American wife and will not be returning to her. She does notunderstand the message and instead believes that he has sent the consulate totell that he is coming to see her. She shows the Consulate her son,Pinkerton’s son. She asks the Consulate to tell Pinkerton of the boy, whowas born after he departed. The rest of the tale is heart-wrenching, thoughfairly predictable.
The betrayal ofthe beautiful and trusting Butterfly by young Pinkerton is deeply touching. Theopera’s lyrics were both poetic and ironic. In act I Pinkerton tellsButterfly not to be afraid to love him and that love cannot hurt her, but ofcourse it is love that is her ultimate undoing. The London City Opera Companybrought this engaging opera to life with elegant costumes, dramatic music, andamazing vocal talent. The performance was simply beautiful, captivating thesold-out audience.
