Break 15:00–16:00
Break 15:00–16:00
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly has been on the playbill of the world opera houses for more than a hundred years.
“I would never stage Madama Butterfly unless this story touched me so deeply, tearing me apart so painfully. It is like an abscess in my soul that constantly hurts, burns and is felt in every cell of my body. Human pain has no time or historical boundaries, neither does it depend on your nationality or social environment. The English version of Lucretia’s tragic love story, the French Traviata and the Japanese Butterfly are all united for me with this suffering and despair of a Woman.
Our play is set in the post-war Japan, after the horrific bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I intentionally put the characters into a more cruel time, trying to remove any decorativeness, using minimum scenery or props. The scene is as naked as the people who lived in those impoverished, hungry times. There is nothing that would distract you. Only the humans in their fatal loneliness and all-consuming Pain. I see Pinkerton’s love for Butterfly as something resembling a humanitarian aid from America. The nature of these relations is monstrous. In the end, the moral explosion turns out to be stronger and worse than the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki,” says Yuri Alexandrov.
Act I
A U.S. naval officer named Pinkerton rents a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan, for himself and his soon-to-be wife, “Butterfly”. Her real name is Cio-Cio-san.
A guest arrives – Sharpless, US Consul in Nagasaki. He warns Pinkerton that this “temporary marriage” with a Japanese woman is a dangerous and nasty game that could cost Cio-Cio-san’s life. The self-confident lieutenant gets rid of the consul’s fears with a joke.
Friends drink whiskey. Pinkerton is already making a toast to the health of another girl he will marry in America. That marriage will not be just a joke, but a real, sacred bond between two equal people. Chio-Chio-san arrives, accompanied by her friends. Then officials and relatives appear. Having met the groom, the guests begin their meal. Pinkerton and Butterfly can finally talk in private. Cio-Cio-san confesses to the groom that for his sake she decided to abandon the religion of her ancestors and convert to Christianity.
The wedding ceremony begins. In the midst of the celebration, Bonze, Butterfly’s uncle, bursts in. He curses his apostate niece. Pinkerton drives away all the relatives, and soon Cio-Cio-san’s tears are replaced by a smile. Suzuki’s evening prayer is heard. Cio-Cio-san says quietly: “Everything is calm, and the sky above us shines with all the lights ... The vault of heaven breathes with happiness.” Pinkerton hugs Butterfly.
Act II
Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting for Pinkerton to return, as he had left shortly after their wedding. Her friend Suzuki keeps trying to convince her that he is not coming back, but Butterfly will not listen to her. Goro, the marriage broker who arranged her marriage, keeps trying to marry her off again, but she does not listen to him either. The American Consul Sharpless comes to Butterfly, accompanied by Goro. Sharpless brought sad news. He has to inform Cio-Cio-san that Pinkerton is married. Prince Yamadori appears, wanting to marry the abandoned Cio-Cio-san. But the woman proudly refers to American law: she is the wife of Lieutenant Pinkerton, she cannot be dismissed as a boring toy.
The Consul tries to start reading the letter from Pinkerton, but is unable to utter the tragic words. Sharpless only advises the unfortunate woman to obey Goro and marry Yamadori. In response, Cio-Cio-san asks Suzuki to bring the baby. The Consul asks what the name of this boy. The answer is quiet, but full of dignity: now his name is Suffering, but if his father returns, they will be calling him Happiness.
Sharpless leaves with nothing. Mocking the women, Goro leaves too. An American ship enters the port. This is the ship that Pinkerton serves! Women decorate the house with flowers. Cio-Cio-san, the boy, and Suzuki await Pinkerton in excitement.
Act III
Suzuki wakes up in the morning and Butterfly finally falls asleep. Sharpless and Pinkerton arrive at the house, along with Pinkerton’s new American wife, Kate. They have come because Kate has agreed to raise the child. But, as Pinkerton sees how Butterfly has decorated the house for his return, he realizes he has made a huge mistake. He admits that he is a coward and cannot face her, leaving Suzuki, Sharpless and Kate to break the news to Butterfly. Agreeing to give up her child if Pinkerton comes himself to see her, she then prays to statues of her ancestral gods, says goodbye to her son, and blindfolds him. She places a small American flag in his hands and goes behind a screen, killing herself with her father’s seppuku knife. Pinkerton rushes in, but he is too late, and Butterfly dies.
Номинация «Опера/работа режиссера», сезон 2001/2002
