UMS Concert Program, October 7, 1983: International Presentations Of Music & Dance -- Western Opera Theater

Season: 105th
Concert: Third
Power Center For The Performing Arts Ann Arbor, Michigan

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THE UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN
Western Opera Theater
Friday Evening, October 7, 1983, at 8:00
Power Center for the Performing Arts
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Madame Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini Text by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa English translation by Ruth & Thomas Martin Albert Takazauckas, Stage Director Evan Whallon, Conductor Jay Kotcher, Scenic Designer Clifford Hestdalen, Costume Coordinator
Kuniaki Hata, Japanese Consultant Kurt Landisman, Lighting Designer
Kathrine Gordon, Wig & Make-up Designer Dale Fundling and Laurie Sowd, Pianists Russ Walton, Company Administrator
Cast of characters, in order of appearance:
Pinkerton................................................. Daniel Harper (Fri.)
Wayne Alan Behr (Sat.) Goro ....................................................... Kevin Anderson
Sharpless....................................................David Malis (Fri.)
James Busterud (Sat.)
Suzuki ................................................. Carol Madalin (Fri.)
Dolora Zajic (Sat.)
Cio-Cio San (Butterfly)..................................... Jean Herzberg (Fri.)
Maria Russo (Sat.)
Commissioner ........................................Patrick Wroulewski (Fri.)
David Malis (Sat.) Borne (a Japanese priest) ...................................... Monte Pederson
Yamadori............................................Patrick Wroulewski (Fri.)
David Malis (Sat.)
Kate Pinkerton ...................................................Diana Kehrig
Trouble.................................................... Kira Rose Walker
Relatives .............Noralee Bush, Joan Gibbons (Fri.), Jean Herzberg (Sat.),
Diana Kehrig, Carol Madalin (Sat.), Rita Mazurowski,
Dolora Zajic (Fri.)
English translation used by arrangement with G. Schirmer.
Western Opera Theater is part of the San Francisco Opera Center, and is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the California Arts Council, and the San Francisco Hotel Tax Fund.
Third Concert of the 105th Season Thirteenth Annual Choice Series
"Madame Butterfly"
Time and Place: Early 20th Century, Nagasaki, Japan
Act I A house on a hill
Intermission Act II Three years later, same scene
Intermission Act III Next morning, same scene
Puccini's Madame Butterfly is famous for having been a fiasco at its premiere in February 1904, but by May of that year Puccini had revised the work, which has become one of the most popular and famous operas in the entire repertoire. Butterfly's aria "Un bel di" is known and loved even by millions who have never seen an opera.
The opera opens in early 20th-century Nagasaki. Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton of the United States Navy is inspecting the house found for him by Goro, a Japanese marriage-broker who has also found him a Japanese bride. Sharpless, the American consul at Nagasaki, arrives and expresses his dis?approval of Pinkcrton's planned marriage, pointing out that the young woman in question may be taking the matter more seriously than Pinkerton seems to. The bride-to-be arrives with her relatives and friends. Her name is Cio-Cio San, but her friends call her "Butterfly." She not only has fallen in love with Pinkerton, but has renounced her own faith to adopt his, a move that, once discovered, would estrange her from her own people forever.
While the marriage contract is being signed, Butterfly's uncle, the Bonze (a Japanese priest), enters and loudly denounces her for having abandoned her faith. Her relatives censure her and leave; Butterfly is badly shaken, but Pinkerton comforts her.
Act II opens three years after Pinkerton has left Butterfly with a promise to return "when the robins nest." Suzuki, Butterfly's devoted maid, is skeptical that Pinkerton will ever return, but Butterfly reaffirms her faith in him. She does not realize that Pinkerton has married an American and plans to return with her to Nagasaki. He has written Sharpless to have him break the news to Butterfly, but faced with her childlike optimism, Sharpless is unable to. They are interrupted by Goro and Yamadori, a wealthy Japanese suitor, whom Goro urges Butterfly to marry, since she lacks any financial support. She replies that she is already married. When Yamadori leaves, Sharpless again tries to bring Butterfly to her senses, but she responds by bringing in her infant son, who has been born since Pinkerton's departure. A cannon salute indicates the arrival of an American warship in the harbor, and Butterfly, discovering it is Pinkerton's ship, is elated. She and Suzuki decorate the house with flower blossoms, and the two of them, along with Butterfly's child, wait for Pinkcrton's arrival. Night falls, and only Butterfly manages to stay awake, still certain her faith and constancy will be rewarded.
Act III opens the next morning, when Suzuki awakens and persuades Butterfly to get some rest, promising to awaken her as soon as Pinkerton arrives. He appears after Butterfly retires; with him arc Kate, his American bride, and Sharpless. Pinkerton is unable to face the consequences of his hcartlessncss; he sings a tearful farewell to the house where he once knew happiness, and flees. Butterfly, aware that people have arrived, enters and quickly discerns the truth. With stoic courage she tells Kate that Pinkerton may return and claim his son in a half hour.
After Sharpless and Kate leave, Butterfly blindfolds her son and, going behind a screen, mortally wounds herself with her father's sword. She struggles to reach her son and dies just as Pinkerton returns.
Upcoming Concerts
Oct. 11: Musica Antiqua Koln Nov. 1: Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra
Oct. 19: James Tocco, Pianist Nov. 2: Soviet Emigre Orchestra
Oct. 23: Beaux Arts Trio Nov. 6: New World String Quartet
Oct. 26: Caracas New World Ballet Nov. 10: Warsaw Philharmonic
Oct. 27: English Chamber Orchestra Nov. 16: Mstislav Rostropovich, Cellist
Oct. 29: Leonid & Valentina Kozlov Nov. 18: Hermann Baumann, Horn
UNIVERSITY MUSICAL SOCIETY
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