Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Neuhold, Et Al

$29.99

Label: Naxos
Release Date: May 1, 2002

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Featuring ⌄

COMPOSER

PUCCINI
ORCHESTRA / ENSEMBLE

Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra, Bremen Theatre Chorus
PERFORMER

Fredrik, Birgit, Brillembourg, Binnewies

Product Details ⌄

RELEASE DATE

May 01, 2002
UPC

730099607827
CATALOG NUMBER

8660078-79
LABEL

Naxos
NUMBER OF DISCS

2
GENRE

Opera / Operetta / Oratorio

Works ⌄

Act I: E soffitto … e pareti (Pinkerton, Goro)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Uwe Eikötter

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Questa è la cameriera (Goro, Pinkerton, Suzuki, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Fredrika Brillembourg, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Dovunque al mondo (Pinkerton, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Ed è bella la sposa? (Sharpless, Goro, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Ah! Quanto cielo! quanto mar! (Butterfly, Amiche, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Gran Ventura … Riverenza (Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Ma ho degli altri parenti (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Amiche, Goro, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: L'Imperial Commissario e l'Ufficiale (Goro, Pinkerton, Sharpless, Butterfly, Amiche)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Qui signor Ufficiale (Goro, Commissario, Ufficiale, Pinkerton, Butterfly, Amiche)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour, Daniel Ratchev, Karsten Küsters

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Lo zio Yakusidé (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Parenti, Sharpless, Commissario, Ufficiale)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Armin Kolarczyk, Heikki Kilpelainen, Daniel Ratchev, Karsten Küsters

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: All'amor mio! (Pinkerton, Butterfly, Goro)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Ieri sono salita (Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Tutti zitti! (Goro, Commissario, Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Uwe Eikötter, Daniel Ratchev, Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Qua, signor Zio. Il bicchier della staffa. (Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Butterfly, Amiche)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Armin Kolarczyk, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: All'ombra d'un Kekì (Yakusidé, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Armin Kolarczyk, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Cio-Cio-San! … Cio-Cio-San! (Bonzo, Goro, Pinkerton, All)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Theatre Chorus, Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Andreas Haller, Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Elisabeth Bunge, Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour, Kristen Strejc, Loren Christopher Lang, Heikki Kilpelainen, Armin Kolarczyk, Birgit Binnewies, Daniel Ratchev, Gustavo Brillemburg, Laura Pederson, Karsten Küsters

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Bimba, Bimba, non piangere (Pinkerton, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Viene la sera… (Pinkerton, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act I: Vogliatemi bene (Butterfly, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Introduction

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: E Izaghi ed Izanami (Suzuki, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Un bel dì (Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: C'è. Entrate. (Goro, Sharpless, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Mio marito m'ha promesso (Butterfly, Goro, Sharpless, Yamadori)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen, Loren Christopher Lang

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Ora a noi. Qui sedete. (Sharpless, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Due cose potrei fare (Butterfly, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: E questo? … e questo? (Butterfly, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Che tua madre dovrà (Butterfly, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Vien sera. Io scendo… (Sharpless, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Vespa! Rospo maledetto! (Suzuki, Butterfly, Goro)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Il cannon del porto! (Suzuki, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Il conto qual sia (Butterfly, Suzuki)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Or vienmi ad adornar (Butterfly, Suzuki)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Nello shosi or farem tre forellini (Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Humming Chorus

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Theatre Chorus, Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Intermezzo

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Dawn

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Dormi amor mio (Butterfly, Suzuki)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Chi sia? (Suzuki, Sharpless, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Fredrika Brillembourg, Heikki Kilpelainen, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Io so che alle sue pene (Sharpless, Suzuki, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Fredrika Brillembourg, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Non ve l'ho detto? (Sharpless, Pinkerton, Kate, Suzuki)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Bruce Rankin, Kristen Strejc, Fredrika Brillembourg

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Suzuki! … Suzuki! … Dove sei? (Butterfly, Suzuki)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Vespa! Voglio che tu risponda (Butterfly, Suzuki, Kate, Sharpless)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg, Kristen Strejc, Heikki Kilpelainen

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: L'amico mio mi diede (Sharpless, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Come una mosca prigioniera (Suzuki, Butterfly)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour

Conductor: Günter Neuhold
Act II: Con onor muore (Butterfly, Pinkerton)

Composer: Giacomo Puccini

Ensemble: Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra

Performer: Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin

Conductor: Günter Neuhold

In 1996, Vox released a 4-CD set that included this, the original La Scala fiasco version of Madama Butterfly, as well as Puccini's revisions for Brescia and Paris. It was a fascinating release and fans of the opera immediately realized what had been wrong with the first version: The first act contained far too much "local color" in the form of music for Butterfly's relatives (there's even a drinking song for her uncle Yakuside), and the 90-minute last act, in addition to simply being too long in general, dragged out the overnight vigil, too abruptly went into Butterfly's lullaby to her child, and wasted an extra couple of minutes between Butterfly's final lines and her suicide--what on earth could she be doing? Puccini later trimmed away a great deal of fat, altered many, many notes and tonalities (it's a delight, actually, to note the differences), added Pinkerton's rueful "Addio fiorito asil" as well as Butterfly's heartbreaking recognition of Kate Pinkerton, and much more. (The ultimate "Ah! Morte!" at the close of her pathetic second-act narrative to Sharpless was an afterthought as well; originally her vision of returning to life as a geisha ends softly and less desperately.)

This is a very well sung performance. Bulgarian soprano Svetlana Katchour is a big lyric (going on spinto) with an attractive sound, her pitch is dead-center, the voice is well and evenly produced, and when her Italian isn't garbled, it's not bad. Her Butterfly is severely undercharacterized, however: she seems a bit shy in Act 1 and pretty unhappy in Act 2, but she never truly moves us as the greatest Butterflys (such as Dal Monte, Scotto, or Callas) do. Pity--the voice is marvelous. Tenor Bruce Rankin, having to make Pinkerton nothing but a cad (without his final, sympathetic aria), does so very well. His also is a lyric voice, but the sound is appealing, the technique in place, and a lively mind is clearly behind his interpretation. It will be nice to hear more of him.

Fredrika Brillemburg's Suzuki is right there with Butterfly, sympathetically and with nice tone in the Flower Duet. Baritone Heikki Kilpeläinen sounds very young for Sharpless, but it's a quality voice. Gunter Neuhold takes six minutes less in the first and 10 minutes less in the second act than Charles Rosekrans on Vox, and the latter hardly lags. I must admit that even though things occasionally do seem rushed on Naxos at 57 and 82 minutes respectively (per act), perhaps getting through them somewhat quickly is not such a bad idea. The Bremen Orchestra is very good, the chorus less so. Naxos' sound is excellent. The Vox performance featured an okay cast--no more. This new Naxos set is the one to own if you want the original, and fans of the opera (particularly at Naxos' price), will need this.
--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com