Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini

Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach

January 25th, 2002

The production was staged by none other than Renata Scotto. Unlike the Tosca production for FGO (see review here), Butterfly seems to be an opera that Scotto identifies more and it should be no surprise because she sang more Butterflies than Toscas in her prime. She directed Chiho Oiwa very well and there were nice details, specially during the letter scene when Butterfly interrupts Sharpless every now and then but every time she realizes that, she takes her hand to her face in forgiveness (as a shy Japanese girl would behave). Pinkerton and Sharpless were well characterized also and Suzuki was very well done, Susuki was always in the background and silent, she only comes to her own during the trio. The single set by Attilo Colonnello was well done also, the living room was in the center, all the characters entered through the left and some (Butterfly and Suzuki) sometimes went to the right (were apparently there were other rooms in Butterfly's house). The back was dominated by large swinging doors in the Japanese style.

Chilo Oiwa is a real Japanese and it counts! She looks the part to perfection, small and child like, and manages the progression from child to woman to perfection. One important detail is that in Act 2 she still behaves as a child (in most productions, if the singer has a large voice, Butterfly already emerges as  Tosca when singing "Un bel di vedremo") and starts maturing only when she recognizes Pinkerton has left her. She has a beautiful lyric soprano voice, used pianissimos to lovingly effect. But she did not have the power required for Butterfly's outpourings ("Trionfa il mio amor", some parts of the Love Duet). In the end, it was very interesting to listen again to a Butterfly sung by a lyric and smaller voice, that is certainly best for the part.

José Luis Duval was a good Pinkerton, his acting was stiff though. His voice is not very beautiful and he is not a refined singer but he had the high notes! He sang the high C in the duet with extreme ease and had all the stamina required for his aria ("Addio fiorito asil").

Jake Gardener was a good Sharpless as far as acting goes, but he had a lot of vibrato and it was painful to listen to him in Act 1 specially where the high notes were forceful and he was constantly out-of-tune. He improved a bit in Act 2.

Yun Deng was a good Suzuki and looked the part also (although she is Chinese). She has a sizeable mezzo voice and used it to great effect in the Trio in Act 2.

César Ulloa was a competent Goro. The smaller parts were on the weak side though, lots of vibrato and unsteady voices.