Madama Butterfly - Finale (Patricia Racette)

[RickJPetry]

I saw this production in New York in December and the use of puppetry was genius. Pinkerton objectifies both Cio-Cio-San and the child and the use of ghost-like puppets was brilliant and haunting.

[Adriandong725]

It should have been very sad...but I cannot help laughing because of the CREEPY puppet...Why didn't they just found some real kid to play the role..

[Fullmetal1890P]

@Adriandong725 It was for artistic value, not to play a role. After a while watching, I seemed to forget it was a puppet.

[mariloly38]

BRAVA

[capitanzach]

That's not how seppuku is done!! In the belly!

[Arenoth21]

@capitanzach Not true, in feudal Japan, women had more options how to commit suicide. Seppuka was only for Samurai caste. Women could slit their throat, bit of tip of their tongue or pierce their throat with tanto (Japanese dagger) like in this video.

[stedmantx]

If you get the DVD it includes an interview with the three puppeteers who operated The boy. It is wonderful to hear them talk about their work. When you see the whole performance watch the expressions of the puppeteers--particularly the one controlling the head. The reactions are astonishing and I found their performances very compelling, even though technically they were supposed to be invisible. But as someone has already mentioned this is a convention of Bunraku and a brilliant choice by Mi

[katherinelunsford23]

its a puppet why would you do that

[HoLLeRBoo]

I loved this version...I love the fact that they incorporated the puppets. I watched this show live at the met and it's way better than seening a 2 year old boy who is almost as tall as Cio Cio San like other productions that I have seen. Great Hob Patricia....only cause she had to fill in. SHE DID A GREAT JOB!

[harvinsky]

Fantastic!!

Black persons are kuroko. We have to treat them as unseen.

It's a very sophisticated madama butterfly stage! Wonderful!!

[breakaliciouskid786]

AMAZING! i'm getting this dvd for christmas.. But.. that puppet is CREEPY as hell.. But it Works O__o

[aloeffel11]

I love this production. I have seen many others and none compare to Anthony Minghella's. It may seem silly but I remember crying the first time I saw this and I have never had that happen before. I adore Patricia Racette and I LOVED Maria Zifchak. I think the puppet was a great way to get the reactions wanted from the child. All of the other productions I have seen had a real kid in the part and they were always so awkward, one even looked like the Little Dutch Boy and it was awful.

[MariaCaIIas]

This is not supposed to be a study on japanese culture... this is Puccini who thought New Orleans is a desert... and Far West sings in Italian...

As such I find the puppet and the creepy feeling somehow fitting and nothing short of spectacular... Great Job from untimely lost Anthony Minghella... a great stage and movies director that will be missed!!

I will even forgive him using the indispensable and universal red sheet at the end... every director's in our galaxy last minute drama solution...

[JJAIME05]

Espectacular

[8x8MaVerick8x8]

I love both Giordani's cries at the end and also his acting when he comes on stage.

[matiasgarcialopez]

People: this opera couldn't be more unjapanese. Butterfly is supposed to be 15 but it should be sung by a huge spinto!!! Reality check' welcome to the wonderful world of opera! I loved the puppet!!! This was aimed at a western audience!!

[8x8MaVerick8x8]

@matiasgarcialopez Hah yeah, unjapanese here, unchinese Turandot, unwestern Fanciulla - all just Puccini's interpretations of Orientalism (literally and as a movement in the case of Fanciulla) at it's height...

[jaxxy313]

It's called BUNRAKU..type it in the search..get educated.!

[thecritiquevirtuoso]

OMG that thing that started running creeped me out

[TheKayaklover]

One FINAL BRAVO for the late Anthony Minghella. I've seen Madama Butterfly several times in different Opera Houses and this production, ( his only opera production ) got to be one of the most spectacular, stunning ones I've EVER seen..! MAGNIFICENT..!

[proko1953]

i'm Japanese.

This puppet wasn't good for me.

The face of puppet scared me.

Orchestra and singer were very good.

[icylakepaxphile]

@proko1953 typical orientalism of westerners, i think....they utilize everything concerned to Japan, and seemed to be exotic...that kind of ningyo jyoryuri-like puppet really scared me too. i can not feel any sympathy for the desparate mother, this scene rather reminds me of a witch controling magic puppet..

[noragree]

This is truly a wonderful singing actress. Thank you Ms. Racette for your beautiful performance. I cried thinking it's not fair to the baby. The 8 min. felt like an experience rather than time and that's how I know you have touched more hearts than just mine. I wish you the best. (I hope she gets this comment....LOL)

[kbuzard6]

they used a puppet because it is easier to control as opposed to a child that young. that way the singer could focus on acting as opposed to working with the child. after a while during the production you don't even notice/care that it's a puppet and it's actually quite beautiful

[heyhit]

i prefer this puppet that childrens with wigs

[Pitheco1]

Novamente em 2012 com o mesmo elenco???? Patricia Racette em grande performance....

[americaneclectic]

The puppet child is just too grotesque and distracts from the tragedy of the scene.

[saj1702]

@americaneclectic

I agree, what were they thinking having that instead of an actual child.

[hchristopher1]

In the theater, people wept from Act I till the end. She is a stunning performer.

[SmbwJessiRose]

Thank you so much for posting this. Patricia Racette is one of my most favourite singers and performers. I flew to Sydney to hear her sing at the opera house in January and I wept like a baby from start to finish! She is such an inspiration!