Manar Elbaz
DUBAI: Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which discusses the tragic story of a young Japanese girl, will be performed at Dubai Opera on September 12 and 13.
The three-act opera is based on John Luther Long’s short story Madame Butterfly (1898) and premiered in February 1904. American playwright David Belasco adapted the short story into a play under the name Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan (1900).
Taking place in 1904 in Nagasaki, the story follows 15-year-old Cio-Cio-San, who is known as “Butterfly”, as her husband marries her out of convenience and plans to leave her once he finds an American wife. He shortly leaves her after the wedding, making her wait three years for him to come back. When he returns to Japan with his American wife, Butterfly tragically takes her own life.
Japan’s first and most well-known opera singer, Tamaki Miura, gained international fame when she played Cio-Cio San in the 20th century.
The Hungarian State Opera will be in charge of the performance in Dubai, with János Kovács as the conductor. Cio-Cio San will be played by Hungarian opera singer Csilla Boross, while her husband will be played by Boldizsár László.
The three-hour performance will start at 7:30 p.m. (Dubai time), and ticket prices range from ¥17,060 to ¥37,131.