"MADAME BUTTERFLY"

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 85, 5 January 1920, Page 3

"MADAME BUTTERFLY"

PUCCINI'S CIIAIUITNG QPEIU REVIVED. "Madame Butterfly," a grand opera, music by .l'uecini. Libretto (adapted from ISelasco'.s romance) by Illiea and Cast:— Lieutenant l'inkcrbn Ralph Errolle Sharpiesa Call Formes The Unnza Fred Collie? I'rhico Yamadori ... Browning Mummery fioro T-m Jlinngui! The Comminsionaire Soy j n unn Cho-Cho-San's Mother K. Levy little Troahla Little Eery! Jtoyle Kate Pinkcrtoa Tsla Ganibli' Busuki Leah Myers Jiadame Butterfly (Cho-Cho-Sanl Amy Castles To (li.lc.cmlo Puccini the world owes :: debt of Knititiidc tor his master creations "In Uohemo" and "Madame Buiterlly," tho two operas of his which have been )>la\\>d in New Zealand, and tho last-mentioned of which was revived in Hit! remarkable success by tho Williamson Grand Opera Company on Saturday evening before a crowded audience. The Puccini individuality, as exemplified it. met hod s, mcludy, construction, and orchestration, was first introduced to u= hero nearly ten years ago by anol'hei Williamson organisation headed by Jliss Amy Castles and "Millie. Bel Sorel.' Puccini's art is as different from that of Rossini and Verdi as are the plays of Somerset .Uaughan to )ho;o of Johanna Kaillie. One of the most striking characteristics of the Puccini style is to supplant the old-time recitative—by which means the composers of old curtailed the narrative—with musical conversation, almost humorous in its triviality at times. For instance. Pinkerlon in tho first acl sings (iiiestinuingly, "Whisky," and Sharpless replies in song—"Yes, Mix }U>. Another!" But the music is alwavs beautiful, always; arresting, always photographic. Puccini follows the themal idea of Wagner in giving musical significance to a. character or a thought, and tho various themes may be detected in one form or another, in tlm orchestra or the vocal score, giving one tho cue to the meaning of a passage or phrase. It may be a two-bar strain on Hie oboo, the violins may sing it. the bassoon grunt it, tho flute trickle, it. but it is always there to those who would listen intelligently to the delicate musical mosaic worked out by tho orchestra.

The storv of "Butterfly" tins been oft. told. "I'is n romance from out of the Bast. Lieutenant Pinkcrton, of the Tinted States Xavy. whilst on a visit to Nasasnki. weds little Cho-Chn-San in Japanese fashion, and after a few weeks' liliss returns to duty, promising to return "when the robins nest again." But ho forgets his faithful little Japanese wife, so true and trusting in her bamboo homo on the hills, and weds an .American girl. To Nagasaki Pinkerton eventually bring?, his wife. Cho-Cho-San. hearing through lit servant. Suzuki that a ship has entered flying the Stars and Slrincs. becomes ell excited, and through the teloscopo is able to devry the name of Pinkerton's shin, the Abraham Lincoln, and eings jubilantly— "I knew they were all liars, liars, liars! But I knew it always;. Just I who love him; Now do you see the folly of doubting: He's coming! Ilg's coming!" So as the day darkens Butterfly and Suzuki make small holes in the shoji (the paper walls of the house) to watch for the coming of Pinkerton, aud a.s the vight \vea",s on Suzuki falls to sleep, but Clio-Cho-San keeps watch, whilst wonderful iniioie symbolises the passage of -time. But Pinkerton comes not—until the rosy dawn merges to golden day. Then ho comes with the Consul (who bus foid.him of Butterlly's fidelity), and wuh him comes his fashionably-dressed American wife. Suzuki questions sharply and ascertains the truth, and, unable to face her mistress, rushes from the room. Butterfly, radiant at the prospe-.it of meeting onco more the man she considers her husband, meets Sharpless, the Consul, and Mrs. Pinkerton, and in a scene of exquisite pathos, the truth is made known to poor little Butlerlly, who complains to Suzuki, in her heart-breaking distress —"Too much light shines outside, and too much laughing spring." When alone she approaches the domestic shrine, takes up a dagger, reclining against an image of Buddha, on which is inscribed the words—"Death with honour is better than lifo with dishonour." Then after n pretty scene with her baby, called "Trouble." she tragically hari-karis 'irilli the aid of the dagger, and falls dead as Pinkerton and Sharpless enter. Miss Amy Castles played and sang the role of Butterfly with a simplicity, r.harnt. and directness 1 that were delightful to realise. Hiss Castles'* voice has lost none of its silver limpidity siuce she. last played the role, and there is that in the texture of her lone that is peculiarly suited to the music of Puccini. She was delightful in the letter scene with Sharpless. in the "One Pino Day"'aria, and sang the ambrosial music of the flower-strewing scene with a fonal beautv entirely entrancing, and was impressive in the tragic music of the finnl scene. Miss Castles in "Butterfly" will remain ono of the most cherished memories of the present season. The only other femalo character ia that of Suzuki, which was acted and sung _ by Miss Leah Myers with fair conviction. Mr. Palnh Errolle made a. smart-looking Pinkerton, and sang better"in tunc than he did earlier in the week. His would be u bettor performance generally if he dropped all effort to poso in favour of naturalism. Some United States Navy officers are natural. He sang well in the long, but doliciously-wriUen bridal duet of the first act. which forms the romantic conclusion to a highly poetic net. Sharpless, the Consul, was played with fine strength and reserve by Mr Carl Formes, who was ouite at heme in the music, and was always in the picture dramatically. A vital note was struck by Mr. Fred Collier as the Bonze, Oho-CTio-San's high-ly-irate uncle. Mr. Collier has the dramatic ocVse to a remarkable degree, and moreover, has a splendid tes organ to back it with. .Mr. Tom Miiiogue is also n consistently sound performer, and his Goro was a capital performance with iust that touch of scampish comedy to givo colour to the role. Mr. Browning Munimerv was Prince Yamadori (Cho-Cho-San's would-be second husband). Mr. Piny Dunn the Commissioner, and Little Beryl Movie a sweet dot as Trouble. The opera was most elaborately mounted, mid the orchestra, so complete in every department, gave delicate, emphasis and precision to the extraordinarily-beautiful orchestration. "Madame Butterfly" is a w»rk Hint will livo a very long timeit will be regarded as one of the finest bills of a notable se.von. Mr. Gustnve Slapoll'ski conducted with his usual skill, and Mr. Frank Iligo was responsible for the st&ge management.