«Madame Butterfly», J.Puccini

Opera in three acts.

Composer: J.Puccini.

Libretto: L. Illika and J. Jakoza.

Director-Producer: Honored worker of culture of Uzbekistan Andrey Slonim;

Musical Director and Conductor: People's Artist of Karakalpakstan Aida Abdullayeva;

Scenography: Honored Art Worker of Uzbekistan Mikhail Novikovsky, in the edition of Andrei Slonim.

 Running time: 2 hours and 20 minutes.

The first premiere on the stage of the SABT named after A. Navoi was held in 1959.

The last production on the stage of the SABT named after A.Navoi was held in 1992.

The action takes place in Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of the 19th century.

 Currently, the play does not go.

The first act.

Lieutenant of the American army Pinkerton marries the Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-san (Butterfly) from an impoverished Japanese clan. Matchmaker Goro helped him to select the bride. Pinkerton goes with him to watch the house, where he is going to settle with his future wife. The bride with her relatives and guests enter, and the American consul Sharples is among them. For a bottle of whiskey, Pinkerton opened his mouth with the consul. He is pleased with the marriage, but does not consider himself bound forever, and at any moment he can divorce. This cynical attitude towards life grieves the elderly Sharples, he persuades Pinkerton not to ruin the girl's life. The bride and family members appear. All are scattered around the garden. The Butterfly confesses to Pinkerton that she decided to accept his religion. Their conversation is suddenly interrupted by one of the relatives of the bride, her uncle Bonza, a fanatical supporter of the religion of the ancestors. He scolds the apostasy of his niece. Guests in confusion leave. The bride is in tears, but the affection of Pinkerton gives her a good mood. Lovers go to the house, nothing hinders their happiness...

 The second act.

Three years past since Pinkerton left home for America, and no any news from him. There is a sadness in the Butterfly House. It can not be dispelled even by the faithful servant Suzuki. Sharples and Goro suddenly appear. The Consul is embarrassed. He received a letter from Pinkerton and must say something to Cio-Cio-san. But he does not have time to do it, as a new guest enters - the rich Prince Yamadori - cunning Goro wins him to Butterfly, who left without a husband. The Prince is waiting for the final answer, but receives a refusal. Sharples, wishing happiness to unfortunate Butterfly, persuades her to accept the offer of the prince. Shocked and insulted by this, she intends even to expel the consul, but then the conjecture illuminates her, although she does not want to believe in the betrayal of a loved one. Perhaps, having learned that they had a son, Pinkerton would return. Sharples is completely upset. He leaves, promising to write to Pinkerton about his son. Suddenly a cannon shot is heard at the port. Butterfly and Suzuki run to the veranda. A ship with the American flag came in the harbor. In the telescope, Cio-Cio-San recognizes the ship on which Pinkerton serves. Joy illuminates her face. She sends Suzuki for flowers, dresses, and combs her hair. The whole house was quickened. It's getting dark. Her son and Suzuki fall asleep, and only Cio-Cio-san is in a tense expectation.

 The third act.

The morning comes. Butterfly takes her son to the bedroom. Sharples and Pinkerton appear. Only Suzuki is in the room. Seeing the guests, she wants to call the lady, but the guests make her sign to wait. Suzuki suddenly sees an unfamiliar woman in the garden. Pinkerton is silent. Sharples is forced to speak. He confesses that this woman in the garden is the wife of Lieutenant Cat. She is so noble that she is ready to take Pinkerton's son into the family. The lieutenant, tormented by remorse, runs out of the room. Butterfly appears in the doorway. She is looking for her husband. Seeing the stranger and Suzuki with tear-stained eyes, she begins to guess what is happening. Sharples wants to convince her to send the child to a family where he will receive a decent education. The desperate Butterfly herself realizes that she has no other way to do. She only asks that Pinkerton to come himself in an hour to take his son. All go out, and she is alone in the room. It is already clear to her what to do. Butterfly asks the maid to leave her, and then she prays. After that, she removes the dagger from the wall. Suzuki pushes the child into the room, hoping that it will be able to stop the mistress, but all in vain. Distracting the child with a toy, Butterfly fastens her son's eyes and, having gone behind the screen, is stabbed with a dagger. When Pinkerton and Sharples go to her room, Cio-Cio-san, dying, points to her son in silence.