[Met Performance] CID:200030



Madama Butterfly
Metropolitan Opera House, Thu, October 15, 1964




Madama Butterfly (443)
Giacomo Puccini | Luigi Illica/ Giuseppe Giacosa
Cio-Cio-San
Gabriella Tucci

Pinkerton
George Shirley

Suzuki
Mildred Miller

Sharpless
Mario Sereni

Goro
Paul Franke

Bonze
Osie Hawkins

Yamadori
George Cehanovsky

Dolore
Bonnie Berkoff

Kate Pinkerton
Marcia Baldwin

Commissioner
Russell Christopher

Registrar
Hal Roberts


Conductor
George Schick


Production
Yoshio Aoyama

Designer
Motohiro Nagasaka

Stage Director
Patrick Tavernia





Madama Butterfly received thirteen performances this season.

Review 1:

Review of John Gruen in the Herald Tribune

Glowing Go-Go San At the Metropolitan

Familiar as it is, Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" remains an enduring and endearing masterpiece. When it is given the kind of glowing performance that it received last evening at the Metropolitan Opera, its great familiarity turns into an experience of rediscovery and wonderment.

The opera, making its appearance for the first time this season, had soprano Gabriella Tucci singing the title role. Miss Tucci has sung the part of the luckless Cio-Cio-San before, but seldom has she given it poignancy. Nor, for that matter, has she brought to the role the emotional breadth and dramatic security that she had previously obscured by an overly mannered approach.

Vocally, Miss Tucci retains very special warmth, highlighted by expressive phrasing that beautifully molded and shaped the underlying meaning of each dramatic moment. A few top notes were cut off - but only a few, and they were amply made up for throughout a beautiful performance.

George Shirley was in excellent form as B. F. Pinkerton, He sang with dash and youthfulness. Mario Sereni was Sharpless, and he too acquitted himself splendidly. Suzuki was well sung by Mildred Miller, and George Schick conducted the orchestra with his customary intelligence and musicianship.



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