Madama Butterfly, Giacomo Puccini's story of the ugly American and the damage he causes to the innocent, trusting 15 year old he pretended to marry so he could satisfy his passions, leaving her pregnant, disowned by her family and waiting, waiting, waiting because she trusted him to return,  had a strange beginning.  It premiered at La Scala in February,1904 and the house was supposedly packed with Puccini's enemies who jeered so much that Puccini had to pull the opera and give the money back to the theater.  He did some rework on this version of Madama Butterfly and re-released it a few months later and thanks to his enemies, we got an even better Butterfly.  Sometimes there really are silver linings.

Today's performance, except for the boring set,  was delightful.  The entire cast was of the highest caliber.  It was not easy to imagine soprano Lori Phillips (Cio-Cio San) as an innocent little 15 year old, but then again, there are few who could get away with that.  The job of the soprano in this role is to make us forget that she can't convince us that she is 15 years old, and sing so well that we totally forget that we want to be convinced.   She did what she was supposed to do and she sang Butterfly beautifully.  We believed that she believed.  In order to make this role work, especially Un bel di vedremo, she has to make us believe that she believes that this guy is not the creep that we know he is, and she did that. Her movements were not graceful, and Cio-Cio San should be graceful, but her voice was convincing.

Tenor Gerard Powers was a very good, and very handsome, Pinkerton.  He is a first rate actor and he never missed a note, and I look forward to hearing him again.  At times however, his voice didn't make it over the orchestra, and this beautiful role needs to be heard. 

Suzuki, performed by New York mezzo-soprano Jennifer Dawn Hines, was my highlight of the afternoon.  I have been following Ms. Hines' career for the past few years because I am so impressed with her unique voice which is incredibly deep and overflowing with color from such a small woman.  This afternoon I realized how her career had grown when the people sitting around me told me that they were there because they had heard Ms. Hines perform before and they were new fans.  It is wonderful to see young talent grow to the point that their fan base is made up not only of family and friends and those of us who try who seek new and upcoming talent, but also of people who know them only as opera professionals who they want to hear and see again and again.  Congratulations to you Ms. Hines. 

Baritone John Packard was impressive as Sharpless from the moment he stepped onto the stage, and he remained impressive throughout his entire performance, as was Robert Mack as Goro. 

Congratulations to the entire cast, I look forward to seeing all of you again.