Next Tuesday, March 17 at 7.30 pm in the Symphony Hall of the Auditorio Nacional de Música the Fundación Excelentia presents Madama Butterfly, an opera in three acts with music by Giacomo Puccini and libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica, based on the play Madama Butterfly, by David Belasco, inspired, in turn, by an account by John Luther Long.
Set in the early 20th century in the Japanese city of Nagasaki, this opera chronicles the tragic relationship between a young geisha (Butterfly) and an American naval officer (Pinkerton). Forma, along with the two previous operas of Giaccomo Puccini, La Bohème and Tosca, the trilogy of the most famous and popular lyrical works of the turn of the century in Italy. An opera of great scenic simplicity, almost minimalist, with hardly any plot and very little action, but with a score full of orchestral and vocal effects that are truly surprising.
It premiered worldwide on 17 February 1904 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Italy and was a resounding failure, being booed by the public and heavily criticized. Following this setback, Puccini withdrew the work and made important changes, dividing it into three acts instead of the two originals. The revised version became an international success.
The Santa Cecilia Classical Orchestra and the Excelentia Vocal Ensemble, together with conductor Kynan Johns, will accompany Letitia Vitelaru (Madame Butterfly), Francesco Castoro (Pinkerton), Blanca Valido (Suzuki) and Manuel Mas (Sharpless), among others.
Tickets can be purchased at this link or by calling 9 4574061 / 91 4583089 or sending an email to reservas@fundacionexcelentia.org.
