Madama Butterfly (Giacomo Puccini) Flashcards
date of premiere
1904
genre
Italian verisimo opera (tragèdia giapponese)
source
based on a play by David Belasco
plot summary
you know this. Characters = Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San), B. F. Pinkerton, Suzuki, Sharpless, Kate, Goro, Prince Yamadori, the Bonze (uncle), and Trouble
librettists
Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
setting
Nagasaki, Japan. ~1900.
Prelude: tempo
Allegro
Prelude: time signature
2/4
Prelude: key
C minor
Prelude: character
agitated quality through aggressive articulation, accents, incisive rhythms, and overlapping voices
Prelude: texture
contrapuntal (fugal)
Prelude: notes
vigoroso, features strings, and European polyphony in marked contrast to Japanese monophony
Un: context
Act 2, Scene 1
Un: form
ABAC
Un: genre
soprano aria
Un: key
G flat major
Un: tempo
Andante molto calmo
Un: time signature
3/4
Un: character/mood
simple, yet emotional
Un: plot
Response to Suzuki’s doubts that Pinkerton will return. One dine day his ship will appear on the horizon. Upon landing, he will ascend to this house in search of me. I shall hide, out of playfulness, and also so as to not die in his embrace. He will call me pet names. This is how it will be.
Un: plot
Response to Suzuki’s doubts that Pinkerton will return. One dine day his ship will appear on the horizon. Upon landing, he will ascend to this house in search of me. I shall hide, out of playfulness, and also so as to not die in his embrace. He will call me pet names. This is how it will be.
Un: texture
homophonic
Un: A
begins high, slowly works it’s way down, contains frequent leaps of 3rds and 4ths, and employs violinata (orchestral doubling of vocal line). rubato-like effect (through rit’s rall’s etc)
Un: B
“Mi metto là sul ciglio el colle”. Time signature changes to 2/4. Pentatonic minor melody implies F minor. con semplicità. recitative-like parlando style achieved through fast-repeated notes, often on same pitch, supported by orchestral chords
Un: A1
“per non morire al primo incontro”. con forza, recommencing on high G flat on “die” (tragic foreshadowing). also quasi-parlando
Un: C
“Tutto questo averrà”. still recitative-like. Melody rises broadly, climactic high B flat on the words “await him”.
Characteristics of Romanticism
- expression of emotions are central to the music
- lyrical melody
- wide range of dynamics and conrasts
- Programmatic structure
- Exoticism
Review and Reflection
Lyrical and expansive
