Madama Butterfly, written by Puccini, is an opera based in Nagasaki, Japan. The story 
starts off with the U.S. Navy lieutenant, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton (Steven Harrison), excitedly singing about his new property in Japan and his arriving bride to be, Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly). She is only 15 years of age and highly respects Mr. Pinkerton. He is warned by his friend Sharpless (Quinn Kelsey) that she is in-love with him and that he shouldn’t take advantage of the situation. The lease on the house and the marriage to his stunning bride can be revoked within a month’s notice. The wedding ceremony brings all of Butterfly’s relatives out, in traditional-looking Japanese kimonos. When it is found out that she is willing to leave her beliefs and her people to be with Pinkerton, the family shuns her and leaves her on her own with Pinkerton, ending the first act.After a slight intermission, the years have flown by and it’s already been three years. Madama (Shu-Ying Li) is deserted in Nagasaki, with no family and no Pinkerton. All she has is a servant, Suzuki (Nina Yoshida Nelsen), and her son (conceived three years back). She has been offered marriage by rich suitor, Prince Yamadori (Daesan No), but she refuses to accept that Pinkerton has abandoned her. When Sharpless returns to bring Butterfly a letter from Pinkerton, she finally realizes she’s been left on her own. She begs Sharpless to bring Pinkerton to see her son, Sorrow.
In Act III, Pinkerton finally arrives, but not alone. He is followed by his “real” American wife, Kate (Jessica Klein), after learning that he has a son. Kate comes to talk to Butterfly because Pinkerton cannot bear seeing her upset. She realizes that this American woman is very caring and will be able to take care of Sorrow. When everyone leaves, she decides to kill herself by slitting her throat. She blindfolds her son in attempts to prevent contaminating his innocence. At the point Pinkerton comes to his senses to visit Butterfly, she cuts herself and Sorrow comes running to her side, ending the opera.
The entire opera was sung without any amplification so that the audience could hear the raw voices of the talented singers. At first, for someone not accustomed to operas, it was a bit difficult to adjust to the change of acoustics. Pinkerton’s tenor voice was slightly overpowered by the enormous orchestra. The voice which stood out the most was that of Madama Butterfly. Her high soprano easily carried over the intense music. The set was simple and plain, only consisting of a set of stairs across the stage and Japanese sliding doors. Occasionally a table would be set up with pillows to sit on. Above the grand stage were the supertitles, for the opera was sung in Italian. From sitting in the orchestra, one’s neck might become soar from looking up and down, from words to singers. The problem wasn’t too hard to deal with, however.
I found that the story very much resembled the story of Miss Saigon, a musical written by 
Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boubil (Les Miserable). The main difference in story lines was that Madama Butterfly takes place in Nagasaki, Japan, while Miss Saigon takes place in Saigon, Vietnam. There were different time periods, different areas, but still the same story. The music was obviously different, comparing a musical to an opera. Both were very powerful due to the orchestration.
Madama Butterfly
April 4, 2010
New York City Opera
Marina B. Nebro
