The story is a quite familiar one. Pinkerton, An American naval officer
stationed in 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 Japan 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....
(Photo Credits: Marty Sohl,
Courtesy: San Francisco Opera)
(Madama Butterfly was San Francisco
Opera's last of the season. The company now gears up for its Ring
Cycle production - coming in
June-July 1999, and for the 1999-2000 season.)
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