A Japanese Tragedy in Three Acts - Performance in Italian language
Duration: 2 hours and 30 minutes
On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the death of the great composer Giacomo Puccini, the Pula Cultural Summer dedicates part of its program to his genius musical mind and works. One of the most performed operas ever, "Madama Butterfly", will take place on Wednesday, 24 July 2024, on the stage of the Pula Amphitheatre, performed by the Slovenian National Opera and Ballet Theater from Ljubljana.
Through this opera, Puccini explores themes of love, betrayal and cultural conflict, depicting the tragic consequences when worlds collide. "Madama Butterfly" evokes strong emotions in the audience, emphasizing the incompatibility of two cultures and the pain that comes from unrequited love, and is rightly described as one of Puccini's most moving operas.
The story is set in Nagasaki at the end of the 19th century and follows the tragic story of Cio-Cio San, a young Japanese woman called Butterfly, and her unrequited love for American Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton. Driven by her undying love for Pinkerton, Cio-Cio San converts to Christianity, hoping to secure their future together. However, her efforts are in vain – Pinkerton returns to America, leaving her alone with their son. Faith in the return of her loved one sustains Cio-Cio San through the difficult years of waiting, but her world comes crashing down when Pinkerton arrives with a new American wife to take custody of their son. Broken and without hope, Cio-Cio San decides to commit suicide.
Puccini's music in "Madama Butterfly" exudes emotional power and expressiveness, combining Western operatic traditions with elements of Japanese musical culture. The aria "Un bel dì vedremo" (One fine day we will see), sung by Cio-Cio San, has become one of the most famous arias in operatic literature, expressing her unwavering hope and deep sadness.
SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, founded in 1892, is the pride of the Slovenian cultural scene. This prestigious theater has been promoting opera and ballet art for more than a century, providing the audience with unforgettable experiences through top performances. And this summer, lovers of classics have the opportunity to experience the magic of the opera "Madama Butterfly" performed by a famous opera ensemble in the magical atmosphere of the Pula Arena.
The leading role of Cio-Cio San will be performed by a soprano with a rich career, Anamarija Knego, who performed numerous roles such as Cleopatra in "Julius Caesar in Egypt", Susanna in "The Feast of Figaro", Desdemona in "Otello", Violetta Vallery in "La Traviata", Micaëla in "Carmen" and many others.
The main male role, Lieutenant Pinkerton, went to Aljaž Farasin. The audience's favorite tenor made his debut with the role of Semproni in the comic opera Apotekar, after which he played a number of roles - Yamadori in "Madama Butterfly", Rodolfo in "La Bohème", Tamino in "Die Zauberflöte", Alfredo in La Traviata, Don Jose in the opera "Carmen" are just some of the roles from his wide repertoire.
Conducted by the experienced Marko Hribernik, and directed by the versatile Vinko Möderndorfer, theater and film director, novelist and screenwriter, this edition of "Madama Butterfly" is certainly an event from the Pula Cultural Summer program that fans of the classics should not miss.
