Tale of hope and despair remains an old favourite
EVERYONE has heard of Madame Butterfly; it’s an old favourite, and is equally – if not more – well known as the inspiration for the musical Miss Saigon. Sometimes, old favourites end up slightly disappointing and over-hyped, but this is definitely not the case with Madame Butterfly.
The story is one of true tragedy. A young teenage girl is married off to a visiting American in Nagasaki, and she believes this means she will have a new life in the United States, after her family renounces her. However, the American disappears, leaving her with her servant and the son he doesn’t know about.
Welsh National Opera’s production on Tuesday night was an exercise in perfection. Masterfully conducted by Carlo Rizzi, Puccini’s characteristic interplay between musician and singer didn’t set a foot wrong. Particular note must be made of Joyce el-Khoury as Butterfly/Cio-Cio-san – her depiction of Cio-Cio-san’s unfortunate end will stay with me for a long time. Playing excellently off Anna Harvey as her faithful servant Suzuki, the two of them were a perfect pair of hope and despair.
Compelling, but a villain all the same, Leonardo Caimi as the American BF Pinkerton was equal parts love and hate – a true talent playing a terrible man. Much like Tom Randle as
Goro, the marriage broker who finds Cio-Cio-san for Pinkerton, it’s hard to hate a character who is clearly being played by someone who loves what they do.
There was also the true delight of the little girl who was playing Cio-Ciosan’s son, who was very sweet to watch as she created a flower garden with crayons and hand prints on the set.
Speaking of the set – as a good modern update, the “magical house” Pinkerton buys at the beginning of the production was a sight to behold. A bare, all-white cube of a building on a rotating platform, it was dressed immaculately for the first act as Butterfly thinks happily about her new marriage and new life, and brought back for act two as a messy, tiny home which Butterfly never leaves as she waits for Pinkerton’s return. It was hugely effective and brought home the sense of Cio-Ciosan avoiding the world outside as she (hopelessly) waits for a life she was promised and never given.
A grand production of one of the best-loved operas ever, Welsh National Opera never disappoints.
■ brief run at the Bristol Hippodrome concludes tonight and returns in April