Stars: Yasuko Hayashi, Hak-Nam Kim, La Scala Theatre Orchestra, Lorin Maazel

Director: Keita Asari

Summary: Puccini's classic opera which was completed in 1904. This performance is the 1986 La Scala production.

The Italian chorus and orchestra of Teatro Alla Scala in Milan present Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY, an opera in three acts.

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Of all Puccini's major operas, the intimate tragedy of Madama Butterflyis least in need of elaborate staging and might therefore benefit most from the close scrutiny of film. The story is domestic, the setting Spartan, the incidental characters kept to a minimum. This 1974 version, however, demonstrates that Butterflystill needs a healthy injection of proscenium arch melodrama. Director Jean-Pierre Ponelle's production strives for realism but remains unfortunately studio-bound, having neither the benefit of location filming nor the heightened reality of an opera stage. The exterior is a perpetually fog-shrouded heath of indeterminate locale; the interior is cramped and unadorned. The setting is just too prosaic to contain the epic emotions of grand opera.

Thankfully, the cast is superb, headed by Placido Domingo's rakish Pinkerton and Mirella Freni's rubicund Butterfly. Their singing is incomparable, as is Herbert von Karajan's musical direction of the Vienna Phil. The singers mime to pre-recorded music, which is occasionally disconcerting since when film demands close-ups opera provides broad gestures. Musically, this Butterflyis impeccable. Visually it adds nothing that could not be seen to better effect in a stage version.

On the DVD:Madama Butterflyis presented disappointingly on disc in a poor NTSC transfer full of distracting graininess that makes every scene, both inside and out, look like it takes place in an omnipresent drizzle. Sound is reasonable stereo and adequate 5.0 surround. There are subtitles in the major European languages as well as Chinese, and the booklet contains a background essay plus synopsis. --Mark Walker

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	Italian
Region:	Region 2
Special Features:	Interactive Menus - 1. English, 2. French, 3. Spanish, 4. German
Subtitles:	English, German
Year:	1986
Release Date:	December 4, 2000
Runtime:	144 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	100 110
Keywords:	Music, Opera, Butterfly, Madama, Classical, Performing, Choral, Operetta, Vocal, Arts
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts