Puccini classic screened in Perth

Being the title role it is to be expected, but Ermonela Jaho as Cio-Cio-San was most impressive in an excellent relay of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly – latest live screening from the Royal Opera House in Perth Playhouse.

Both peerless vocally and emotive in her acting, Jaho was truly touching. Given the direct, but with telling detail, production by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier and the sets which did away with superfluous decoration she was the affecting centre of the action.

This, with the powerful musical direction of Sir Antonio Pappano, probably the best operatic conductor around today, made for an evening where you really felt with Butterfly.

In the second act particularly you saw Butterfly’s vividly expressed hopes and joys, made all the more affecting because you know they and she are doomed.

A word on close-ups: MET productions cater for these well, being graced by eye and hand movements, but ROH productions can appear a little stony, for example when Butterfly – with less than perfectly smooth make-up – has the camera poked in her face and challenges the viewer to believe that she really is only 15 years old.

The tenor Marcelo Puente looked fine as Pinkerton yet it was only at the love duet and in his final Addio, fiorito asil that he really became special as a vocal character.

Excellent in tone and presence was Elizabeth Deshong as Butterfly’s maid Suzuki.

A beautiful combination in the Cherry Blossom duet, she was the knowing audience’s presence in the second act and the embodiment of horrified reaction in the next act where she, first of all, is told the horrible truth.

Scott Hendricks was good as the US Consul Sharpless in telling Pinkerton to“watch out!” Butterfly believes this. He was less good in expressing his frustration about not being able to get through to Butterfly.

Another well-filled Screen Six enjoyed this fine telecast.

The next opera, on April 22, is Tchaikovsky’s melodious and dramatic Eugene Onegin with Anna Netrebko as Tatiana.