Study Guide
Study Guide Contents
GENERAL INFORMATION
- Beginner's Guide to Opera
- Who's Who At the Opera
- The Lyric Opera House
- BOC Education Programs
- A Bibliography of Selected Readings
- Education Resources
2007-2008 SEASON
2006-2007 SEASON
2005-2006 SEASON
2004-2005 SEASON
2003-2004 SEASON
2002-2003 SEASON
PREVIOUS OPERAS
Madama Butterfly
Opera in three acts
Music -Giacomo Puccini
Libretto -Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Based on Madame Butterfly by David Belasco
in turn based on a Short Story by John Luther Long
First performed February 17, 1904, Milan, Italy
Production Underwritten by Mercedes Benz (logo), the official luxury car of the Baltimore Opera Company
Principal characters:
CIO-CIO-SAN (Choh-Choh-San) A young geisha girl of a noble family spinto soprano
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN PINKERTON (Pronounced as in English) A lieutenant in the US Navy tenor
SUZUKI (Soo-tsoo-kee) Butterfly's maid mezzo-soprano
SHARPLESS (Pronounced as in English) American Consul baritone
GORO (Goh-roh) A Marriage broker character tenor
YAMADORI (Yah-mah-doh-ree) A Japanese Prince lyric baritone
LO ZIO BONZO (Loh Tsee-oh Bohn-Tsoh) Butterfly's Uncle, a Buddhist Priest basso profundo
KATE PINKERTON (Pronounced as in English) Pinkerton's American Wife mezzo-soprano
Madama Butterfly (Mah-dah-mah Butterfly) takes place in Nagasaki, Japan towards the end of the 19th century.