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Madama Butterfly
Music CD CoverPerformer: Giacomo Puccini Performer: Sir John Barbirolli Performer: Paolo Montarsolo Performer: Giuseppe Morresi Performer: Silvana Padoan Edition: Music CD Format: Original recording remastered CD Release Date: 2002-09-17 Music Label: EMI Classics Soundtracks: Music CD 1- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. E soffitto... e pareti
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Questa è la cameriera
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Che guardi?... Se non giunge ancor la sposa
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Dovunque al mondo
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Quale smania vi prende!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ecco! Son giunte al sommo del pendìo
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Gran ventura
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. L'Imperial Commissario
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Vieni, amor mio!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ieri son salita tutta sola
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Tutti zitti!... Ã? concesso al nominato
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Ed eccoci in famiglia
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Bimba, bimba, non piangere
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Viene la sera
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Quest'obi pomposa
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Vogliatemi bene, un bene piccolino
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 1. Vieni, vieni... Via dall'anima in pena
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. E lzaghi ed lzanami
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Suzuki... è lungi la miseria?
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Un bel dì vedremo
Music CD 2- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. C'è. Entrate
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Ah sì. Goro. appena B.F. Pinkerton fu in mare
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Si sa che aprir la porta
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Ora a noi
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Qui troncarla conviene
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. E questo? E questo?
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Che tua madre dovrÃ
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Io scendo al piano
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Vespa! Respo maledetto!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Una nave da guerra
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Or vienmi ad adornar
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 1. Coro a bocca chiusa
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Introduzione / Oh eh! Oh eh!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Già il sole!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Chi sia? Oh!... Zitta! Zitta!
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Io so che alle sue pene
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Glielo dirai?
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Tu, Suzuki, che sei tanto buona
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Come una mosca prigioniera
- Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Part 2. Con onor muore
Free Music Notes for Madama ButterflyFree Music Review: The Definitive Butterfly Hit: 5 Stars
There are a few recordings that I believe most opera lovers can agree on: the Beecham Boheme and the Callas Tosca stand at the top of the list. This Butterfly belongs in that group. There is not a weak link the entire recording. First and foremost, Butterly is a soprano's opera -- probably more so than any other opera. From her entrance until her death, Butterly is never offstage except for the brief period at the start of act III when sleeping. However, a beautiful voice is not enough. The ability to go from sounding like a 15 year old girl in act I to being almost weary in act III is not easily done. Renata Scotto has done it in this recording better than any one. Her's is the ultimate reading of the drama. She sounds much younger in Act I than in Acts II and III. For some, the highlight of the opera is Un Bel Di. However, for me, it comes a bit later is in the letter scene with Sharpless. In Che Tua Madre, Scotto will rip your heart out. At the end of the aria, on her first "morta" on the high A, it stabs you like the knofe that is soon coming. Sharp, pointed and wrenching -- maybe even the best single note in any recorded opera. It's that magnificent. I had the privilege of seeing Scotto do Butterfly later in her career (after some of the wear and tear had introduced some wobble in the upper register). Dramatically, they were among the most intense performances I have ever seen. Amazingly, on this recording, she conveys the same dramatic line as well as being at the prime of her vocal career.
This is the recording that introduced me to the glorious Carlo Bergonzi. His Pinkerton is simply unequaled. Although I am one of the biggest Domingo fans, Placido could never approach Berognzi's Pinkerton. Bergonzi's portrayal is not quite the cad most others project, but his emotional breakdown at the realization of what he has caused at the end of the opera almost makes you feel sorry for him. Being able to make Pinkerton sympathetic is a neat trick. It shows how great Bergonzi is as Pinkerton.
The third leg of the stars is Rolando Panerai as Sharpless. I don't know of anyone who does not believe this is the greatest Sharpless recorded. Warm and sympathetic when needed, reproaching but never condeming with Pinkerton in both Act I and III.
Lastly, Sir John Barbirolli leads the forces masterfully. Sir John only recorded two operas, but I'm glad this is one of them. The story is told in the liner notes of how the Rome Orchestra a few weeks before had played about as bad as possible on another recording and still get paid. Yet here, just a few weeks later, they play their hearts out for him. His pacing makes the drama and the dramatic portrayal by the rest of the cast even more intense. His reading is flawless.
There are not enough adjectives in the thesaurus to describe how magnificent this recording is. If you don't know Butterfly, this is the recording that will make you fall in love with the opera. If you love the opera, this recording will remind you why. This recording belongs in every opera lover's library.
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