Madame Butterfly

Puccini's great opera Madame Butterfly was showcased yesterday in my area on PBS during a presentation of it's program called "Great Performances." To say the opera is great is an understatement. The Metropolitan Opera's production which included traditional elements of kabuki theatre using marionettes was superb.

Though the opera takes place in 1800's Japan and is sung in the composer's native Italian, the listener is transported immediately to the place and time where this story emerges; into the lives of two star crossed lovers whose decisions are played out gloriously with flowing fabric, native costume, puppetry, and voice.



Never in my life have I been touched so deeply by an opera. I wept from my gut as I watched "Butterfly" sing with such voice. The raw emotion expressed (with subtitles) was unmistakeable. One can at once relate to the circumstances and identify with the characters though they are a world away and more than a century removed.

True love is lauded and fidelity extolled in this masterpiece. I can envision the hankies coming out of ladies purses and their gentlemen granting them succor and comfort as they exited the opera houses so long ago, though the story itself was a bit scandalous for it's time.

For a preview of this magnificent opera CLICK HERE!

'Tis the season of painted ladies, fritalaries, and Monarch's in our desert. My town in in a migration path for these lovely creatures. I try to provide plants attractive to them such as lantana, butterfly bush, honeysuckle.....they seem to love my young mimosa tree with all of it's fuzzy, pink, fragrant blossoms as well. I could watch the habit of these delicate insects for hours on end if I had the time and the weather wouldn't melt me.



Toward dusk, the creatures emerge in our desert seeking a drink from sprinklers that are only allowed on after 6 pm. Tonight I will think of Madame when I see them fluttering and seeking nectar, while spreading their sweetness.

In honor of love, art and butterflies....like-minded readers will be given 25% off any purchase made through the month of July when mentioning the title of this blog post in their message to the seller at check out. Your discount will come to you in the form of a PayPal refund within 12-24 hours of your purchase. Click here to be taken to the shoppe, where you will find many things from days gone by.

Carpe Diem!
HDRose