Puccini described Madama Butterfl y as
his most ‘deeply felt and imaginative
opera’. The heart-breaking drama, clothed
in the exotic allures of ‘Japanisme’ all
played out with the luscious score written
by Giacomo Puccini makes this one of the
most popular and beloved operas
of all time.
Girl Mee
T
he exoticism of the East and Japan
contributed to an expansive body
of popular literature and fashion; a
trend that was prevalent in the 19th
and 20th century Europe. Japanese gardens
and interior design became in vogue. Whistler,
Ezra Pound and William Butler Yeats all drew
inspiration from Japanese art and culture. It is
no surprise that the exoticism of the East was
used as a form of escapism for the audiences,
fuelling their imagination, and increasing the
dramatic effect of the harrowing love story set
in Nagasaki.
Played out in three acts (originally two) the
opera originated on the short story ‘Madame
Butterfl y (1898) by John Luther Long and was
dramatized by David Belasco. It had its original
version premiered in 1904 at La Scala, Milan
to an ill appreciating audiences and was later
revised, reworked and performed in 1904 in
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