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    Grace 123

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    Monica Roa
    The document provides information about the opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, including its plot synopsis. It is a romantic tragedy set in Nagasaki, Japan in the early 20th century. The story involves a Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San who marries an American lieutenant but is left waiting faithfully for his return after he leaves for America. When he returns with his American wife three years later, Cio-Cio-San commits suicide upon learning of his new marriage. The document also reflects on whether the opera exemplifies the emotional ideals of Romantic opera and how it differs from Verdi's "La Traviata".

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    Grace 123

    Uploaded by

    Monica Roa
    9K views4 pages
    The document provides information about the opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, including its plot synopsis. It is a romantic tragedy set in Nagasaki, Japan in the early 20th century. The story involves a Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San who marries an American lieutenant but is left waiting faithfully for his return after he leaves for America. When he returns with his American wife three years later, Cio-Cio-San commits suicide upon learning of his new marriage. The document also reflects on whether the opera exemplifies the emotional ideals of Romantic opera and how it differs from Verdi's "La Traviata".

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    The document provides information about the opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, including its plot synopsis. It is a romantic tragedy set in Nagasaki, Japan in the early 20th century. The story involves a Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San who marries an American lieutenant but is left waiting faithfully for his return after he leaves for America. When he returns with his American wife three years later, Cio-Cio-San commits suicide upon learning of his new marriage. The document also reflects on whether the opera exemplifies the emotional ideals of Romantic opera and how it differs from Verdi's "La Traviata".

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    9K views4 pages

    Grace 123

    Uploaded by

    Monica Roa
    The document provides information about the opera "Madame Butterfly" by Giacomo Puccini, including its plot synopsis. It is a romantic tragedy set in Nagasaki, Japan in the early 20th century. The story involves a Japanese girl named Cio-Cio-San who marries an American lieutenant but is left waiting faithfully for his return after he leaves for America. When he returns with his American wife three years later, Cio-Cio-San commits suicide upon learning of his new marriage. The document also reflects on whether the opera exemplifies the emotional ideals of Romantic opera and how it differs from Verdi's "La Traviata".

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    MADAME BUTTERFLY

     Music by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924)


     Libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Ilica.From the short story
    by John Luther Lung, derived from Pierre Loti’s tale Madam Chrysantheme.
     Romantic tragedy Set numbers; recitative. Setting: Nagasaki,Japan, at the
    beginning of the 20th century. Two acts: Act 2 with two parts.

    Synopsis
    When American naval vessels frequented Japanese seaports, American
    Liutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton met Cio-Cio-San (“Butterfly”) and was captivated
    by her beauty. Pinkerton rented a Japanese house and pasrt of his rental package is his
    “betrothal” to Cio-Cio-San.

    Treating the marriage merely as a casual affair, Pinkerton returns to America


    after the wedding leaving Cio-Cio-San loyally waiting for his return. He marries an
    American woman named Kate. When he returns to Japan three years later with his
    American wife, he learns he bore a son with Cio-Cio-San. Upon learning that Pinkerton
    had married another woman, Cio-Cio-San kills herself to make herself to make sure that
    Pinkerton takes their son with him.

    REFLECT:
    1.Does the opera showcase the ideals and emotional whims of Romantic
    opera?How?
    GOLDE : This question probably pertains to the opera play “Madame Butterfly,” which is a
    three-act opera that was first played on 17 February 1904 at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan,
    Italy. And to answer the question, I think the answer is YES. Madame Butterfly is a perfect
    example of what a romantic opera is, along with its emotional whims and ideals.
    GRACE : Yes, because “Madame Butterfly”, which recounted the tale (derived from a short
    story of the same name by American author John Luther Long) of a Japanese girl’s ill-fated
    love for an American sailor.
    JAZIELL : Yes, because it’s a story where the main female character gives up the man she
    loves to his family’s reputation. This sacrifice is exemplified when Alfredo’s father demands
    that, for the sake his family, Violetta break off her relationship with his son.
    2.What makes this opera different from “La Traviata”?
    GOLDE : Opera is a form of play wherein the actors and actresses (singers) play the leading
    roles which includes music and singing. Even though it involves singing and music, it is still
    different from musical theater. Opera incorporates performing arts, such as acting, scenery,
    costume, and sometimes dance or ballet.
    GRACE : There are some definite stylistic differences. Verdi’s style starts from the musical
    language of Bellini and Donizetti, but becomes more complex and symphonic as time goes
    on. One can hear the influence of Wagner from Aida onwards, and
    both Otello and Falstaff are Wagnerian, but still recognizably Verdi.
    JAZIELL :Opera is a form of play wherein the actors and actresses (singers) play the leading
    roles which includes music and singing.

    LA TRAVIATA
     Music by Giuseppe Verdi (1813-1901)
     Libretto in Italian by Francesco Maria Piave, based on “La Dame aux Camelias,” play
    by Alexandre Dumas after his novel by the same name.The play is known in English
    as “Camille,” Premiere: Venice, March 6,1853.
     Categorized as a Romantic tragedy.
     Set in Paris, France during 1850.
     Originally in three acts, but present-day productions are usually in four acts dividing
    the original Act II.
     ACT I: Violetta’s Paris salon, luxury furnished
     ACT II: A villa near Paris
     ACT III: Ballroom in Flora’s mansion
     ACT IV: Violetta’s bedroom

    SYNOPSIS
    At one of her brilliant supper parties, the beautiful but frail demimondaine (a
    woman supported by a wealthy lover –Merriam Webster Dictionary), Violetta Valery,
    meets the well-born Alfredo Germont. They immediately fall in love and she decides to
    abandon her life of pleasure.

    Alfredo’s father did not approve of their lifestyle in the country and demands that
    Violetta renounce Alfredo. Violetta determined to make the sacrifice , then departs and
    leaves only a note for Alfredo.

    She appears at a ball in Flora’s house on the arm of an old admirer, Baron.
    Douphol which makes Alfredo angry. Alfredo challenges the Baron to play cards where
    Alfredo wins consistently. Unable to persuade Violetta to go with him, Alfredo insults her.
    Violetta becomes ill, and all her friends desert her, leaving her virtually pen niless.

    Alfredo returns to Violetta. His father told him of the real story behind Violetta’s
    departure from their country house, and urged him to seek her forgiveness. Overjoyed
    at the sight of him, Violetta attempts to rise but fails into Alfredo’s arms. Germont and
    the doctor enter as Violetta dies.

    REFLECTION:
    1.Does the plot of the opera reflect the ideals of the romantic period?Why?
    GOLDE : Yes. The name Romantic Period got its name from Romanticism, a European Movement.
    The music itself reflects the art and nature at the time (1820-1900). The music is homophonic. The
    tone color is diverse which makes it pleasing to the ears.

    GRACE : The opera concerns itself with social issues contemporary to Verdi, almost autobiographical
    in places with regard to his own relationship with Giuseppina Strepponi

    2.Do you think the opera “La Traviata” is an opera worth watching?Why?
    GOLDE : Yes . its a romances and a melodrama its tell different kind of love and it will surely melt your
    heart and even your soul

    GRACE : Yes because it has more knowledges that is you need to know.

    JAZIELL : La Traviata, on the other hand, is an opera in three acts. It was composed
    by the Italian composer Giuseppe Verdi. La traviata means “the fallen woman” or
    “the one who goes astray”. This refers to the main character named Violetta Valéry
    which is a courtesan.

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