Madam Butterfly - English National Opera Guide 26 (includes libretto)

Madam Butterfly is one of the most popular operas of all time, despite its disastrous premiere, after which it was immediately withdrawn and revised

Were these alterations necessarily improvements?

This Guide explores how and why the libretto was softened to suit the tastes of European opera-goers and the different variants of the texts are set out, side by side, for easy comparison

Professor Jean-Pierre Lehmann introduces the story and shows how the theme of a Japanese girl deserted by a heartless foreigner became a classic

John Luther Long's novella on which the opera was based is included as well, so it is possible to judge how successful Puccini was in catching its essence in his hauntingly beautiful score

Readers can assess for themselves the implication of the changes of emphasis, tone and characterisation

REVIEWS

'Brilliantly produced and superb value' ~ Sunday Times

'All these will provide the new opera-goer with food for thought' ~ Daily Telegraph

'Wholehearted recommendation of this valuable new series' ~ TLS