Stars: Raina Kabaivanska, Eleonora Jankovic, Nazzareno Antinori, Lorenzo Saccomani, Maurizio Arena

Summary: The Verona Arena perform Puccini's opera 'Madame Butterfly.

Maurizio Arena conducts a performance of Puccini's masterpiece, "Madame Butterfly," at the Arena de Verona. One of the most culturally important operas of all time in terms of its fusion of Oriental and Occidental, Puccini's work brings love and tragedy to new heights of passion. Raina Kabaivanska stars as the title character, and is supported with great performances from Nazareno Antinori, Elonora Jankovic, and Lorenze Saccomani.

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This traditional production of Puccini's enduringly popular opera Madama Butterfly should give much pleasure. It was recorded at the open-air theatre in Verona in 1983 with the local orchestra and chorus under the aptly named Maurizio Arena. The video direction is by an expert in the field, Brian Large, who brings home all the intimate moments of Puccini's drama from an open set that ascends and sprawls across rows of seating. His camera draws the viewer into scenes that the audience cannot witness at their distance--most movingly when Sharpless, the American consul in Nagasaki, gives up his attempt to read Pinkerton's letter to Butterfly saying he has no intention of seeing her again (set to that magical melody which will recur as the humming chorus).

It's of little matter that there are no operatic stars in the cast for this ensemble consists of experienced singers who fill the night air with lungs to match Puccini's heaviest demands. The audience, many of them evidently on holiday, greet the show-stopping moments with waves of applause. Their enthusiasm may drown a few bars of orchestral continuity but the orchestra itself is always at the service of the singers on a soundtrack that captures the atmosphere of an open-air performance with astonishing verisimilitude. Butterfly, sung by the statuesque Raina Kabaivanska, may not see Cio-Cio San (to give "butterfly" her real name) 16 years again and some of her arm movements are overdone but her big number "Un bel di" and its reprise when she's holding her child by Pinkerton are touchingly conveyed. Neither does she overplay the final scene where she prepares to follow her father's example using the Mikado's dagger to commit suicide--a moment that sends a shiver down the spine in its economy. Nazzareno Antinori as her Pinkerton, with his matinée idol looks and resonant voice, complements her well; their singing of Puccini's spacious love duet at the close of Act One goes down a treat with the crowd. --Adrian Edwards

Aspect Ratio:	4:3 Full Frame
Main Language:	Italian
Region:	Region 2
Subtitles:	English, French, German, Italian, Spanish
Year:	1983
Release Date:	June 11, 2001
Runtime:	140 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	4509 99220 2
Label:	N V C Arts
Keywords:	Music, Opera, Butterfly, Works, Madama, Stage, Classical, Performing, Operetta, Arts
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts