Search - Giacomo Puccini, Tullio Serafin, Saint Cecilia Academy Orchestra :: Puccini: Madama Butterfly

An Opera I Love That I Know I Should Loath

Timothy Kearney | Hull, MA United States | 05/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll admit that MADAMA BUTTERFLY is not one of my favorite operas, at least as far as characters are concerned. I find Pinkerton repulsive and as an American, I hate the fact that one of opera's most popular works has what is perhaps the most obvious example of an "Ugly American." I remember reading that some American critics hated the work at its New York premiere for the reasons I state. And yes I know, there are far more vile characters in opera than "Love'm and Leave'm Pinkerton, but he's so realistic ,Cio Cio San is so vulnerable, and Puccini's music so fits the story, I almost hate to listen to the opera because the same tragedy happens over and over again. Yet every time I put the CDs in the player and hear the string prelude, I know I have to listen because there are some of opera's most emotional and passionate musical moments in this work.



There are a number of tremendous recordings of this work available with some of operas greatest stars as Cio Cio San: Maria Callas, Mirella Freni, Anna Moffo, and Renata Tebaldi. Tenors who love the bravado of Pinkerton include Pavarotti, Carreras, Domingo, Mario Del Monaco and Carlo Bergonzi. Any set with any of these stars is musical heaven, but for me the BUTTERFLY of choice is this mid priced set with Renata Tebaldi and Carlo Bergonzi under the direction of Tulio Serafin. Anytime I listen to it, I'm captivated by the performance and drawn into the drama. It is often considered one of Tebaldi's best studio recordings, and Decca has used excerpts from this recording in many of its opera compilations.



Since this is a role often associated with both Renata Tebaldi and her rival Maria Callas, some may wonder which is the better choice. Well, I'm the wrong person to ask. I own and love both. The Callas recoding has certain intensity as opposed to the polish of this set, and this set is in stereo as opposed to the mono recording of the Callas set. Both sets are masterpieces, but for my tastes, the Tebaldi set is the better choice.

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Lovely Conducting and Performance

Gary Paul Johnson | Los Angeles, CA United States | 08/03/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I couldn't have asked for a more lovingly sung Butterfly than Tebaldi's and at this bargain price it puts it way out front of similar accomplishments. The stereo sound is sharp and well balanced, voices front as they should be. Plus Serafin's beautiful dramatic conducting. One may quibble with Bergonzi's Pinkerton not seeeming "caddish" enough, but he sounds better here than in most recordings I have heard."

For your heart

Susan L. | New York,NY | 10/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"My mother, who never saw an opera in her life, had the London LP "Highlights" version of this performance. Each time she played it, she cried unashamedly. I have seen 4 Butterfly's performed live. None matches this recording for its sheer power. Brava, Renata, brava."