Ilona Cole, Guest Author, Story 150

A Tragic Opera by Puccini, “Madame Butterfly”

It was opera season in Seattle and my dearest friend and niece Marcie, and I looked so forward to seeing Madame Butterfly, Puccini’s opera, with the most beautiful aria sung by Cio Cio San, a soprano, the Butterfly.

The message of the tragic opera premiered February 1904 at the La Scala in Milan, Italy. Set in the early 20^th century, Madame Butterfly explores themes of love, heartbreak, betrayal and cultural differences.

This enduring tale encapsulates a tragic love story between a young Japanese girl, called Cio Cio San and an American Naval officer, Pinkerton. In Italian the famous song Butterfly sings: “Un bel di, vedremo,” a soprano aria by Giacomo Puccini, set to a libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa.

The music of this song is touching and gives one goosebumps and tears. It touches your heart and soul.

Marcie and I enjoyed this lovely, but also very sad story, and I was painfully reminded that this story could be told about young English ladies, or young German ladies, called “War Brides” who experienced such tragedies after WWII.

We all take chances when it comes to love at least once in one’s lifetime.

Poor Butterfly, her love did leave her and her two-year-old son and married an American lady, leaving Cio Cio San feeling betrayed and in despair and out of her desperation, she takes her own life. Such a beautiful setting, but such a tragic story.

It reminded me of my, long ago, British friend, Clara. Her mother, Japanese married a British Naval officer, who then when Pearl Harbor was bombed, sent her mother back to Japan and Clara was left without her mother and she suffered terribly with that loss.

Marcie and I enjoyed this tragic love story, especially the touching, but beautiful music, was very emotional. It touches one with so many different feelings throughout, from love to despair, from loving someone to betrayal.  It was a day in our lives that will be unforgettable.

Fond memories!

Note from Marcie: I enjoyed that evening so much, from the glass of champagne before the Opera began to the moving and beautiful opera–so powerful, and so very sad. I took the above “selfie” of me and Ilona as we were waiting for the opera to begin that night! Thank you, Ilona, for the priceless gift of your love and friendship, and for all the wonderful memories together, and for your wonderful stories to help us remember or celebrate those memories with you.