MADAMA BUTTERFLY
Giacomo Puccini (1858 - 1924)
Opera in three acts in Italian
Libretto: Giacosa and IllicaPremièr at Teatro alla Scala, Milan – 17 February 1904
May 1954 (4 Performances)
Teatro San Carlo, Napoli
Conductor: Ugo Rapalo
Chorus master: Michele Lauro
Stage director: Ciro Scafa
Scene and costumes: n/a
Cio-Cio-San, Madam Butterfly LEYLA GENCER soprano
Suzuki, her servant n/a mezzo-soprano
Kate Pinkerton, Pinkerton’s American Wife n/a mezzo-soprano
B.F. Pinkerton, Lieutenant in US Navy n/a tenor
Sharpless, US Consul at Nagasaki n/a baritone
Goro, a marriage broker n/a tenor
Prince Yamadori, a rich Japanese n/a baritone
The Bonze, Cio-Cio-San’s uncle n/a bass
The Imperial Commissioner n/a bass
The Official Registrar n/a baritone
Time: Early Twentieth Century
Place: Nagasaki
IL MATTINO
1954 May
San Carlo
management made a right choice of inviting Leyla Gencer- who was the revelation
of the previous season’s “Cavalleria Rusticana”, to sing the role of Cio-Cio-San.
Thanks to her artistic sensibility and her noble interpretation, Gencer has
been a remarkable Butterfly. With her unique style, the young yet famous
soprano conquered the audience. After a big round of applause, Leyla Gencer
sang once again the famous aria.
