Leyla Gencer Archive

MADAMA BUTTERFLY

Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924)

Opera in three acts in Italian

Libretto: Giacosa and Illica
Premièr at Teatro alla Scala, Milan – 17 February 1904

10, 12 April 1959

Teatro Nacional de São Carlos, Lisboa

Conductor: Oliviero de Fabrittiis

Chorus master: Mario Pelegrini

Stage director: Alfredo Furiga

Scene and costumes: Casa Fiore

Cio-Cio-San, Madam Butterfly LEYLA GENCER soprano

Suzuki, her servant CORINNA VOZZA mezzo-soprano
Kate Pinkerton, Pinkerton’s American Wife MADALENA ANDERSEN mezzo-soprano
B.F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant in US Navy ALFREDO KRAUS tenor
Sharpless, US Consul at Nagasaki SESTO BRUSCANTINI baritone
Goro, a marriage broker CESARE MASINI SPERTI tenor
Prince Yamadori, a rich Japanese VITO SUSCA baritone
The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San’s uncle MANUEL LEITA bass
The Imperial Commissioner MARIO OLIVEIRA bass
The Official Registrar n/a baritone

Time: Early Twentieth Century
Place: Nagasaki

Note: Oliviero de Fabritiis withdrawn from the second performance due to his illness and performance conducted by a young conductor.

OPERA MAGAZINE

1959 January