The Dallas Opera 2021-2022 - Madame Butterfly/Flight

6 SYNOPSIS ACT ONE B. F. Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy, is about to marry Cio-Cio-San, also known as “Madame Butterfly.” At the house he has leased overlooking the Nagasaki harbor, Pinkerton is shown around by Goro, the marriage-broker. Sharpless, the American consul, arrives for the wedding ceremony. As they drink some whiskey, Pinkerton admits that he leads a carefree life, traveling from one port to another and enjoying numerous romantic adventurous, none of which mean anything to him. He admits that Cio-Cio-San has enchanted him, but drinks to the day that he’ll marry a “real” American wife. Cio-Cio-San appears with her friends, Pinkerton is enchanted. She takes him aside to show him her few precious possessions, including the dagger with which her father had committed suicide. She also reveals that she has converted to Christianity for Pinkerton’s sake. The Imperial Commissioner and Registrar perform the marriage ceremony, but moments later the wedding festivities are interrupted by a Buddhist priest, the Bonze, who is Cio-Cio-San’s uncle. When her friends and family hear from him that she has given up her religion, they denounce her and rush away in outrage. Cio-Cio-San is devastated, but Pinkerton comforts her. After her maid, Suzuki, helps her change into her wedding kimono, she joins Pinkerton in the moonlight. ACT TWO Cio-Cio-San continues to wait for word from Pinkerton, who left Japan three years previously. She’s dismayed to hear from Suzuki that they have very little money left. Suzuki remains skeptical that Pinkerton will ever return, but Cio-Cio-San declares that she’ll faithfully await the day when his ship will enter the harbor and she’ll see him climbing up the hill to the house to be reunited with her at last. Sharpless appears with a letter from Pinkerton. He’s about to read it to Cio-Cio-San when they’re interrupted by Goro, who has brought a suitor for Cio-Cio-San, Prince Yamadori. Although he’s wealthy and clearly smitten with her, she dismisses him and he leaves sadly. Sharpless finally begins reading aloud Pinkerton’s letter, which reveals that Pinkerton will soon be coming back to Japan. The consul asks Cio-Cio-San what she would do if Pinkerton never returned. Struck almost numb with shock, Cio-Cio-San concedes that she might have to return to her former life, but that it would be better to die. Sharpless suggests that she reconsider Yamadori’s offer. Despairing at the thought that Pinkerton has forgotten her, Cio-Cio-San rushes into another room and returns holding her little son, Pinkerton’s child. She reveals that the boy’s name is Trouble, but when his father returns, the name will change to Joy. Deeply moved by Cio-Cio-San’s devotion, Sharpless promises to tell Pinkerton about the child. A few moments after Sharpless leaves, a cannon shot is heard, coming from the harbor – the signal that a ship has just arrived. Viewing it through her telescope, Cio-Cio-San is ecstatic to see that it’s her husband’s ship, the “Abraham Lincoln.” Suzuki helps her first in spreading cherry blossoms all over the house, then in carefully applying her makeup and assisting her as she dresses for the reunion with Pinkerton. Suzuki and the child eventually fall asleep, but Cio-Cio-San begins an all-night vigil as she awaits her husband. Madame Butterfly TIME: Early 20th century PLACE: Nagasaki, Japan THE DALLAS OPERA | 2021/2022 SEASON