Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-03-03
THE THREE LOVES OF "MADAM BUTTERFLY"
hyegn

Fantasy, passion and tragedy are
exquisitely mingled in the pathetic
story of Madam Butterfly" the last
now being sung by Mr.. Henry w. Saw
ages English singing artists to the
most enthusiastic of crowds wherever
they go, and which will appear at the
Odeon theater in this city next Thurs
day evening. March 5.
Mr.. Longs delightful narrative of
Japanese life on which the Puccini OPP
era is based contains underlying sem
timents. symbolism and national char
acteristics that really form the full
force OF the story. All these beautiful
preston in the expansion made by
Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa In
their three-act book which forms the
grand opera.
No character In the vast array OF
grand opera herotnes of the past quite
reaches the sweetness of poor little
Madam Butterfly" in its range of pure
and holy loves.
Her loves are three, and from all Of
them she draws only unhappiness and
grief of the most poignant character.
First, her love of kindred and fore
father, the fundamental principle Of
Shintoism, the real base Of the religion
of Japan. Second, the loyal love OF the
wife for her husband, the American
naval officer. Third, the love she
bears her child-Trouble.
Puccini, the composer. finds in mu-
ct cvyp ho1tcyo, som w the
dramatist can never resound or reach.
In his Madam Butterfly" the Italian
has met these themes in an after Wag-
ner spirit. For each Of the loves he
has a distinctive motive, in the elab-
Grafton of which the atmosphere Of
old Japan and of modern days Is
clearly sounded. Musically interpret
ed, these passions Of love, hope and
despair are given with a significance
that mere words and acting could not
possibly convey.
How great was Butterfy's love for
the American officer! This is shown
in the remuneration of her religion and
her people even before the marriage
ceremony. Illica and Giacosa con-
yev this in q complete lyric of exqui-
site feeling:
Here what I would tell you:
Yesterday crept softly to the mission,
Entering on my new life
1 wish to adopt a new religion.
No one knows what I've done,
Neither friends nor relations;
My fate l have to follow,
And full of humble faith
I bow before the God of my dear mas
ter"
The discovery Of this by her uncle.
a Buddhist priest, after the ceremony
was over, leads to the denunciation of
her, in which she is deserted by her
relations and cursed by the priest as
follows:
In everlasting torment
May your wicked soul perish!
Come with me, all!
Well leave her!"
During this scene the orchestra, thru
the wood winds, celeste and Japanese
instruments, sounds the note of Bud
dha, warning of disaster beneath
which Butterfly covers. She quickly
rallies under the caresses of her hus-
band. and finds surcease in the ex-
clamation:
"They have denounced me, and yet
I'm happy"
In the rapturous love duet that fol-
lows, in the self-abnegation of her
race, and in the timidity and purity of
her love, the poor geisha bride pleads:
.Ah love me a little;
oh, just a very little:
AS you would a baby.
IT'S all ask for. 6'i
come of a race
Accustomed to little"
The ardour of the American lover
Expresses her. She grows fearful; the
orchestra sounds again the sinister
forebodings as she TREMENDOUSLY sings: