MADAMA BUTTERFLY

If you have never been to the opera, Madama Butterfly is an excellent place to start: the storyline is easy to follow; the music is rapturous and there are even a few famous arias thrown in for good measure. Opera Australia kicks off this summer season with their popular production of the Puccini classic. Set at the turn of the twentieth century, Madama Butterfly is the quintessential tragic story of innocent love lost, bastardry and betrayal. At the dawn of the American century, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, a Lieutenant in the US Navy signs a lease for, “a doll house” in Nagasaki. He also leases a 16 year old Japanese bride, Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly). The sweet and innocent Butterfly (performed by Patricia Racette) flutters and swoons in devotion. The American born Racette has performed Butterfly in Munich, Florence, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco amongst other places and her clear voice soars to the heights of the house with angelic beauty. BF Pinkerton is performed by Rosario La Spina, whose rich voice is as large as the tenor’s own frame, making his appearance in a sailor’s uniform improbable at times. The doll house set itself is stunningly elegant: paper walls and lanterns, a bare floor with minimalist Japanese furniture set on a floor floating in a petal strewn moat. But in the end, it is Racette’s own elegant performance as the pining, patient and ultimately betrayed Butterfly that makes this opera essential viewing.

Until Mar 3, Sydney Opera House, $95-280, 9318 8200, opera-australia.org.au