Lorin Maazel Puns

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ko8bHlzxuYttgBpHdNU33vHebufthg37/view?usp=sharing

Libretto: http://www.murashev.com/opera/Madama_Butterfly_libretto_English_Italian

This is one of the great collabs between Puccini and Giacosa-Illica, the two librettists responsible for some of Giacomo's greatest hits. The relationship between them was very tense while doing an opera, they often got so intensely into the work that they would end up fighting. This opera has one of the most loved characters in Cio-Cio-san and at the same time one of the most hated characters, Pinkerton. The music was carefully composed, as everything Puccini did, including some traditional Japanese melodies in parts of the score and even the hymn of the U. S.

Our tenor today is Peter Dvorský, a Slovak singer at first known for his more lyrical qualities, but that later on in his career moved on to heavier repertoire. A beautiful timbre and good interpretation made Pavarotti say once that he was his true succesor.

In this La Scala traditional production, Yasuka Hayashi makes a great Butterfly, Hak-Nam Kim is Suzuki and Giorgio Zancanaro completes the underrated cast as Sharpless. Lorin Maazel leads them all excellently.