The Story Behind the Opera
By Yuge Zhang and Kim Young Ah, Photo credits to Kim Young Ah
Singapore Lyric Opera (SLO) is presenting “Madama Butterfly”, the Number 7 on the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly) is an opera composing of three acts written by Giacomo Puccini. According to one scholar, it is also said that the story of Madama Butterfly was based on a true story that happened in Nagasaki in the early 1890s. The arrival of world-class opera, Madama Butterfly in Singapore was definitely delightful news for the Singaporean audience as the performance featured several local talented opera singers as well.Basically, the synopsis bears an interesting aspect that depicts the stereotyped submissive lotus flower perspective of Asian women in the western cultural context.
The story begins with 15 year old Cio Cio San who was also known as ‘Butterfly’, who falls in love with a Lieutenant in the United States Navy, Pinkerton. In order to marry and be with Pinkerton, Cio Cio San secretly renounces her ancestral religion and converts to Pinkerton’s religion. She believes that Pinkerton loves her as much as she does for him but for Pinkerton, the marriage was a mere loose contract for his temporary amusement which he saw as something he could always call off once he finds himself an American wife.
One day, Pinkerton left the house and did not return home to Cio Cio San for 3 years. However, ‘Butterfly’ still faithfully waited for his return, believing that Pinkerton would definitely come back. There is no word from him till Sharpless, the American Consul arrives with a letter from Pinkerton. However, unable to bring himself to finish reading the letter to her, he left her with a question “Butterfly, what would you do if he never returned?”
Throughout the performance, it was really painful and heartbreaking to watch her endless hope and faith in Pinkerton to return for 3 years by denying the reality that Pinkerton will never come back to her. Also, her optimism and unconditional trust in Pinkerton even frustrated me as Mako Nishimoto, who acted as Cio Cio San did a terrific job in her role as naïve and delusional ‘Butterfly’ which blurred the lines between acting and reality.
The opera was interesting as it portrayed how Asian women were depicted as objects of desire and sexual fantasy especially during wartime encounters with American military personnel in 20th century through the relationship between Cio Cio San and Pinkerton. Furthermore, Cio Cio San’s renouncement of her religion and family for the marriage ultimately put her in a most miserable situation where she was left with nothing but a broken heart.
I felt that the Singapore Lyrical Opera did a fantastic job narrating this heart wrenching tragedy, keeping me spellbound with their realistic stage setting, colourful and elaborate costumes, melodious symphonies and superb voices. I believe Madama Butterfly is one of the best western operatic masterpiece infused with Asian’s cultural context and music. Furthermore, the kind of synergy effect created by the perfect synchronization between live orchestra and casts’ singing was marvelous. Although the opera was sung in a foreign language, the intricate, detailed body language and emotions of the performers couldn’t have told the story better.
The SLO will be performing Singapore from 1st February till 5th February, so if you are looking for oriental taste in western context (especially, if you are a fan of “Memoirs of a Geisha”), this is the show for you. Don’t miss it! Assolutamente fantastic.
