Madama Butterfly at the Four Seasons Center in Toronto Special

“I wait for him with unshakeable faith.” “Madama Butterfly” is a three act opera that was composed by Giacomo Puccini and based on a play by David Belasco. The Libretto was created by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica. Puccini’s opera was first performed on February 17, 1904 in La Scala, Milan. It tells a heartbreaking story about a Japanese woman named Butterfly who falls in love with Pinkerton, a United States Navy Lieutenant. Butterfly, played by Adina Nitescu, patiently waits for three years, only to find out later that Pinkerton (David Pomeroy) has been unfaithful to her by marrying an American woman. The US Navy Lieutenant comes back to Japan to confront his past but cowardly runs away from his responsibilities: a wife, a three-year-old son and an unacquainted love. At the end, Butterfly can no longer continue her tragic and treacherous life, therefore, she makes the decision to leave her three-year-old son behind, her mother (Lilian Kilianski) and a past that is filled with morose tears and a sea covered with clouds by committing suicide.

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this season and ended with quite an extraordinary performance image:58968:5::0

Andrew Moran The view of the Four Season Center during the intermission. image:58974:3::0

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this opera season at the COC and ended with quite an extraordinary performance. image:58976:2::0

The Canadian Opera Company’s production of “Madama Butterfly” performed for the last time this 2009-2010 Diamond Anniversary season at the Four Seasons Center for the Performing Arts. As the show came to an end and the curtain call began, thousands stood an ovation and applauded each cast member, especially Butterfly. After the show, dozens of audience members discussed the reprehensible actions of Pinkerton and how an immoral person can commit such a heinous act of infidelity and be the cause of one woman’s downfall. Many spectators also enjoyed the music, as they admired the violins playing the opening tense prelude. The general reception: magnificent. In an e-mail correspondence with Digital Journal, Falan Hamilton, an assistant publicist at the COC, said that 2,072 tickets were sold prior to the performance. But in a later e-mail, Hamilton verified that Tuesday’s show was completely sold out.

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this season and ended with quite an extraordinary performance image:58973:3::0

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this season and ended with quite an extraordinary performance image:58969:3::0

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this season and ended with quite an extraordinary performance image:58970:3::0

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this season and ended with quite an extraordinary performance image:58971:3::0

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this opera season at the COC and ended with quite an extraordinary performance. image:58977:3::0

For the remainder of November, the Four Seasons Center will host “The Nightingale and Other Short Fables” by Igor Stravinsky and National Ballet of Canada’s production of “Sleeping Beauty” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and “Glass Pieces.” The next performance of “Madama Butterfly” will occur at the Welsh National Opera in Great Britain next week.

Andrew Moran Madama Butterfly performed for the last time this opera season at the COC and ended with quite an extraordinary performance. image:58975:4::0