Madame Butterfly

Utah Opera

Capitol Theatre - Salt Lake City, Utah

October 18-26, 2008

Barbara Shirvis, Cio-Cio San (Butterfly)

Scott Piper, Pinkerton

(I have opted not to include a synopsis of this opera. Please follow this link.)

I found out at the later end of of the 2007/2008 season that Scott Piper would be singing the role of Pinkerton, the lead tenor from Puccini's Madame Butterfly. I was very disappointed. You see, he also sang the role of Cavaradossi in Utah Opera's production of Tosca (January 2008). I went there ready to cry during E lucevan la stella. Cavaradossi's aria while he awaits execution. Everytime I hear it, if it is sung well, I end up in tears. It is so emotional. He sings of his love, Floria Tosca, and the sweet times they shared together. So the time of the famous aria (one of my favorites!) comes and Mr. Piper ruined it for me. I didn't sense any emotion in his voice. It was kind of "dry," boring. (The rest of the opera was great, especially the murder in the second act [I love it when baritones are killed] and Tosca's suicide was phenomenal.)

So I went into Madame Butterfly, expecting the worst from Mr. Piper, but you know what? Of course you don't, but I'll tell you...I realized, I didn't know any of the tenor arias from this opera (Butterfly). So how could he ruin it for me, I had nothing to compare his performance too. So needless to say Mr. Piper didn't ruin it for me. I still don't like his voice, but, well anyway. I'm very critical of tenors, probably because I am one myself. :)

Barbara Shirvis as Cio-Cio San was amazing. One could hear the hope in her voice as she sang Un bel di (One fine day). She expresses her hope that Pinkerton will return to her "when the flowers bloom." Despite the fact that they have already "bloomed" three times.

I was deeply touched by the devotion she showed to her husband. She gave up everything to be with him. Even to the point of be cut off from her family. She left her religion for the "American religion" (Christianity).

Another of the most famous pieces of music from this opera is the Humming Chorus. During this chorus, Cio-Cio San, Suzuki (her maid), and Dolore (Cio-Cio San and Pinkerton's son) gather flowers and spread them all around the house in preparation for Pinkerton's return. His ship has arrived, after three years! While they gather flowers, the chorus is heard (offstage) humming. It sounded exactly like the duet from the end of act one of La Boheme and Bring Him Home from Les Miserable by Claude-Michel Schonberg (composers always steal...er...I mean "borrow" from other composers. I do it to.) This song was very powerful.

The final act, Pinkerton arrives with his new "American wife." Which he had promised to have at the beginning of the first act before he and Butterfly (Cio-Cio San) were even married. (The jerk! He's one of the most hated tenors in all of opera. Maybe that's why I wasn't bothered by the role being sung by Scott Piper. [Don't get me wrong, he does a lot better than I could do. I just want to make that clear] The other most hated tenor, in my opinion, is Judge Danforth from Robert Ward's The Crucible.) Anyway, Cio-Cio San and the new Mrs. B.F. Pinkerton meet. Mrs. P. promises to take care of Dolore. (Which by the way, means sorrow. Cio-Cio San named him that to remind herself of the sorrow she felt during Pinkerton's absence. She planned to rename him when Pinkerton returned.) Pinkerton is not present during all of this he decided he couldn't handle being in that house. (The idiot realized how dumb he had been three years before.)

Did I fail to mention Cio-Cio San was only 15 years old when they were married?

So Cio-Cio San agrees to let Mr. and Mrs. Pinkerton take her son on the condition that Pinkerton, the jerk of a tenor, comes to get him. (Remember the coward left because he couldn't handle being in that house . C'mon, man up, ya punk!) Cio-Cio San sends Suzuki outside to play with Dolore after she says goodbye to him. She grabs the knife (the same knife her father used to kill himself. The knife was a gift from the Mikado. [Unrelated to the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta]. Her father obliged by killing himself.) and prepares to kill herself.

Now here is where I actually kind of found Scott Piper's voice somewhat nonrepugent. He runs up to the house (it's on a hill, probaby to discourage family members from visiting :)...) singing "Butterly, Butterfly, Butterfly." He enters just as she stabs herself. Dolore enters, followed closely by Suzuki as Cio-Cio San dies in Pinkerton's arms.

The curtain came down as the cast got ready for curtain call. (That means the show is over and it's almost time to go home.) As the curtain rose Barbara Shirvis was alone on stage. She recieved a standing ovation. Her performance was magnificent! After a moment she exited and the rest of the cast came out and took there bows. Than the priniciples and Scott Piper. Than Barbara Shirvis came out again, this time with the boy who played Dolore. Who also received "loud applause." The show was a smash hit.

I saw it again the following Friday. I loved it so much I had to see it again. This time, I was in the back of the orchestra level. I had a large woman who smelt of BO on my left and a couple on my right. I was leaning a little to my right trying to breath. I think I annoyed the couple, as I was sitting rather close to the woman trying to get as far away as possible from the big woman. The show was sold out. I didn't see any empty seats, otherwise I might've talked to someone about changing my seat. The performance was still amazing however despite the company around me.

I did however get a compliment from one of the ushers as I walked into the theatre. He commented on me wearing a tuxedo. Not many people do that anymore. It's sad.

Next time, my review of Hale Theatre - Orem's production of Aida the musical Elton John and Tim Rice.