[Met Performance] CID:200030
Madama Butterfly {443} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/15/1964.
(Review)
Metropolitan Opera House
October 15, 1964
MADAMA BUTTERFLY {443}
Puccini-Illica/Giacosa
Cio-Cio-San.............Gabriella Tucci
Pinkerton...............George Shirley
Suzuki..................Mildred Miller
Sharpless...............Mario Sereni
Goro....................Paul Franke
Bonze...................Osie Hawkins
Yamadori................George Cehanovsky
Dolore..................Bonnie Berkoff
Kate Pinkerton..........Marcia Baldwin
Commissioner............Russell Christopher
Registrar...............Hal Roberts
Conductor...............George Schick
Production..............Yoshio Aoyama
Stage Director..........Patrick Tavernia
Designer................Motohiro Nagasaka
Madama Butterfly received thirteen performances this season.
Review of John Gruen in the Herald Tribune
Glowing Go-Go San At the Metropolitan
Familiar as it is, Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" remains an enduring and endearing masterpiece. When it is given the kind of glowing performance that it received last evening at the Metropolitan Opera, its great familiarity turns into an experience of rediscovery and wonderment.
The opera, making its appearance for the first time this season, had soprano Gabriella Tucci singing the title role. Miss Tucci has sung the part of the luckless Cio-Cio-San before, but seldom has she given it poignancy. Nor, for that matter, has she brought to the role the emotional breadth and dramatic security that she had previously obscured by an overly mannered approach.
Vocally, Miss Tucci retains very special warmth, highlighted by expressive phrasing that beautifully molded and shaped the underlying meaning of each dramatic moment. A few top notes were cut off - but only a few, and they were amply made up for throughout a beautiful performance.
George Shirley was in excellent form as B. F. Pinkerton, He sang with dash and youthfulness. Mario Sereni was Sharpless, and he too acquitted himself splendidly. Suzuki was well sung by Mildred Miller, and George Schick conducted the orchestra with his customary intelligence and musicianship.