The
story is a quite familiar one. Pinkerton, An American naval officer
stationed in Nagasaki, Japan falls in love with a geisha girl, Cio-Cio-San
(Butterfly), and marries her against the advice of the American
Consul. Promising he would return, he goes back to America. Years
pass, Cio-Cio-San attended by her servant Suzuki, faithfully waits
(and sings one of opera's most memorable arias, Un bel di....
or "One beautiful day..."). Meanwhile, Pinkerton, who never
took his Japanese marriage seriously, has found himself an American
wife, Kate. But when he learns from the Consul that Cio-Cio-San has
borne him a son and has been waiting for him, he returns with Kate
to Nagasaki to claim his son. Cio-Cio-San agrees to give him the child,
but overcome with grief commits hara-kiri. Pinkerton, filled with
remorse, tearfully bids farewell as he sings one of opera's famous
tenor arias Addio, fiorito asil.... And when Richard Leech,
today's pre-eminent Pinkerton (blond and All-American) sings it -
with soaring conviction - he tugs at your heart strings, and in the
end you are filled with sympathy for a fellow who was, to begin with,
a scoundrel.
(Richard Leech is the Cover
Story of FanFaire's Anniversary Issue. )
(Richard
Leech photos: � MLHart, Courtesy: Martha L. Hart;
Other Photos: Ken Howard, Courtesy: Los Angeles Opera)
(See MusicPlanner
for
LA Opera's season calendar.)
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