cast:

The Warsaw production of Madame Butterfly drew the attention of the Washington Opera's director, the great tenor Placido Domingo, and a co-production with the Grand Theatre - National Opera was subsequently staged in Washington. The premiere was held on 27 October 2001, gaining an enthusiastic reception from the audience and excellent reviews in the American press.

Placido Domingo:

„Never in my long life have I seen such a wonderful production of Madame Butterfly. But not only that. This is also one of the most beautiful productions I have ever seen in opera”.

It is a performance that goes far beyond the framework of opera. It is fresh, innovative and intelligent. A spectacle filled with extraordinary magic, and theatrical charm. A symbolic world has been created on stage, devoid of any literality, breaking down the stereotypes of our way of thinking about Japan.

This is a time of great breakthroughs in opera. Artists are drawing from contemporary times more and more clearly. In Treliński's production, I am delighted with the perfect balance between modernity, the extraordinarily bold form, and the material of the work itself. The stage vision has been completely subordinated to the story line and the music of Puccini.

(from an interview given to Joanna Klimas for the fortnightly "Viva" magazine)

Plot

ACT I

The exterior of Pinkerton's house. Pinkerton tells Sharpless of his infatuation for a Japanese girl and of his intention to marry her for "nine hundred and ninety-nine years", with the privilege of annulment when convenient. Pinkerton's levity upsets Sharpless, who tries to convince the lieutenant of the gravity of a relationship with a Japanese girl. Pinkerton repeats how intensely he loves her ("Amore o grillo"). Laughing voices of Japanese girls are heard and Cio-Cio-San apears. She introduces her relatives and friends to Pinkerton ("Spira sul mare"). Presently, she informs her beloved that for his sake she has renounced her religion. The marriage ceremony is interrupted when Cio-Cio-San's uncle appears to condemn his niece for renouncing her people. Contemptuously, her relatives spurn the girl and depart. Butterfly bursts into tears but is soon soothed by Pinkerton's tenderness. As night descends, the lovers are happy in each other's arms as they confide their passionate feelings ("Viene la sera").

ACT II

Inside Butterfly's house. As Suzuki prays before an image of Buddha, Butterfly chides her gently for appealing to a Japanese god. Butterfly is faithful to Pinkerton, who has been forced to leave with the American fleet, and she is true to his religion and country, certain that some fine day he will come back to her ("Un bel di"). Sharpless brings Butterfly a letter which she is about to read when the marriage broker arrives with a wealthy suitor. Butterfly is deaf to all propositions. When Sharpless inquires what Butterfly would do if Pinkerton were to desert her, she answers gravely that she would kill herself. She now calls in the child, Little Trouble, who is the fruit of her love ("Chi vide mai a bimbo"). Sharpless now knows that a terrible tragedy is imminent. Suddenly there comes from the harbor the sound of a cannon shot. Cio-Cio-San seizes a telescope and learns that Pinkerton's ship has returned. In anticipation of her beloved's return, Butterfly helps Suzuki decorate the house with cherry blossoms (Flower Duet: "Scuoti quella fronda di ciliegio"). She then dons her wedding dress, but day passes, into night with no sing of Pinkerton.

ACT III

Dawn has come. Weary of her vigil, Butterfly goes to an inner room. While she is absent, Pinkerton and Sharpless arrive. Suzuki is overwhelmed with joy at the sight of Pinkerton, but when she sees an American woman at Pinkerton's side she senses the worst. Sharpless persuades Pinkerton to leave without seeing Butterfly. After a tender farewell to the house and his memories ("Addio fiorito asil"), Pinkerton departs. When Butterfly rushes into the room she finds not Pinkerton, but Sharpless and a strange woman. When she sees her servant in tears she begins to understand what has happened. The American woman - Pinkerton's wife Kate - implores Cio-Cio-San to turn over to her Pinkerton's child. At last, Cio-Cio-San is ready to do this - but only on condition that Pinkerton himself makes the request. When Sharpless and Kate leave to call Pinkerton, Butterfly raises a dagger to her throat. Little Trouble appears. Butterfly bids her child farewell ("Tu, tu piccolo Iddio!"). She gives him a doll and an American flag to play with. Then she goes behind a screen with her dagger. A moment later she staggers out; by the time Pinkerton appears, she is dead. Pinkerton is overwhelmed with grief. Sharpless gently leads the motherless child from the house.