Home
Opera in English Librettos/Scores
Rights/ Commissions
Contact Me
La Bohème
Don Giovanni
Gianni Schicchi
Madame Butterfly
The Marriage of Figaro
I Pagliacci
|
|
|
Madame Butterfly
|
|
|
|
by Giacomo Puccini
|
|
|
|
"Better to die with honor than to live in dishonor"
Puccini's most heart-breaking drama contrasts undying devotion with exploitation and betrayal. Experience it more deeply than ever before in this touching new translation. ---------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
|
|
Act II Butterfly: "Un bel di vedremo..."
|
|
|
|
"One day it will be there, far out, where the sky meets the sea, a slender thread of smoke that rises above the water. A great white warship! Steaming into the harbor, she will fire her cannon. There it is! I can see it! I want to run to meet him. But, no, I will stand right at the edge of the hill, and wait as long as it takes for him to get here, and not grow weary.
Then down below, coming out of the city, a man, like a tiny ant, begins to climb up our hillside. Do you know who he is? When he has reached the top, do you know what he will do? He will call out, 'Butterfly, where are you?' I will not answer yet. I will keep myself hidden, partly to tease him, but mostly, so not to die from his first embrace! Then, anxiously, again he will call for me, crying, 'Oh, darling little wife! Oh, my cherry blossom!', sweet names he gave me on the day we were married.
It will be just that way, I know it! You choose to live in fear, but I have faith! He will come!"
|
|
|
|
Copyright Kenneth Jakobs 2005-2006 All rights reserved
|
|
|
|