Starter Packs

Complete your collection with these curated titles, grouped at a special discount.

Shop Now
Naxos

Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Neuhold, Et Al

$29.99

Details

Composer
PUCCINI
Artist
Fredrik, Birgit, Brillembourg, Binnewies
Format
CD
Label
Naxos
Released
May 01, 2002
Catalog #
8660078-79
UPC
730099607827

About

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

Tracklist 46 tracks

  1. Disc 1
  2. 1 Act I: E soffitto … e pareti (Pinkerton, Goro) 02:09
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act I: E soffitto … e pareti (Pinkerton, Goro)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Uwe Eikötter
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  3. 2 Act I: Questa è la cameriera (Goro, Pinkerton, Suzuki, Sharpless) 04:01
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act I: Questa è la cameriera (Goro, Pinkerton, Suzuki, Sharpless)
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Fredrika Brillembourg, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  4. 3 Act I: Dovunque al mondo (Pinkerton, Sharpless) 02:53
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act I: Dovunque al mondo (Pinkerton, Sharpless)
    Duration
    02:53
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  5. 4 Act I: Ed è bella la sposa? (Sharpless, Goro, Pinkerton) 04:01
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act I: Ed è bella la sposa? (Sharpless, Goro, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    04:01
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  6. 5 Act I: Ah! Quanto cielo! quanto mar! (Butterfly, Amiche, Sharpless) 02:48
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act I: Ah! Quanto cielo! quanto mar! (Butterfly, Amiche, Sharpless)
    Duration
    02:48
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  7. 6 Act I: Gran Ventura … Riverenza (Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless) 02:40
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act I: Gran Ventura … Riverenza (Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless)
    Duration
    02:40
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  8. 7 Act I: Ma ho degli altri parenti (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Amiche, Goro, Sharpless) 02:14
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act I: Ma ho degli altri parenti (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Amiche, Goro, Sharpless)
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  9. 8 Act I: L'Imperial Commissario e l'Ufficiale (Goro, Pinkerton, Sharpless, Butterfly, Amiche) 03:01
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act I: L'Imperial Commissario e l'Ufficiale (Goro, Pinkerton, Sharpless, Butterfly, Amiche)
    Duration
    03:01
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  10. 9 Act I: Qui signor Ufficiale (Goro, Commissario, Ufficiale, Pinkerton, Butterfly, Amiche) 02:00
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act I: Qui signor Ufficiale (Goro, Commissario, Ufficiale, Pinkerton, Butterfly, Amiche)
    Duration
    02:00
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Uwe Eikötter, Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour, Daniel Ratchev, Karsten Küsters
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  11. 10 Act I: Lo zio Yakusidé (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Parenti, Sharpless, Commissario, Ufficiale) 02:05
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act I: Lo zio Yakusidé (Butterfly, Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Parenti, Sharpless, Commissario, Ufficiale)
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Armin Kolarczyk, Heikki Kilpelainen, Daniel Ratchev, Karsten Küsters
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  12. 11 Act I: All'amor mio! (Pinkerton, Butterfly, Goro) 02:36
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act I: All'amor mio! (Pinkerton, Butterfly, Goro)
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  13. 12 Act I: Ieri sono salita (Butterfly) 02:05
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act I: Ieri sono salita (Butterfly)
    Duration
    02:05
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  14. 13 Act I: Tutti zitti! (Goro, Commissario, Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless) 03:13
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act I: Tutti zitti! (Goro, Commissario, Butterfly, Amiche, Pinkerton, Sharpless)
    Duration
    03:13
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Uwe Eikötter, Daniel Ratchev, Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  15. 14 Act I: Qua, signor Zio. Il bicchier della staffa. (Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Butterfly, Amiche) 01:41
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act I: Qua, signor Zio. Il bicchier della staffa. (Pinkerton, Yakusidé, Butterfly, Amiche)
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Armin Kolarczyk, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  16. 15 Act I: All'ombra d'un Kekì (Yakusidé, Pinkerton) 01:04
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act I: All'ombra d'un Kekì (Yakusidé, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    01:04
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Armin Kolarczyk, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  17. 16 Act I: Cio-Cio-San! … Cio-Cio-San! (Bonzo, Goro, Pinkerton, All) 02:14
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act I: Cio-Cio-San! … Cio-Cio-San! (Bonzo, Goro, Pinkerton, All)
    Duration
    02:14
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    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
    Ensemble
    Bremen Theatre Chorus, Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  18. 17 Act I: Bimba, Bimba, non piangere (Pinkerton, Butterfly) 01:48
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act I: Bimba, Bimba, non piangere (Pinkerton, Butterfly)
    Duration
    01:48
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  19. 18 Act I: Viene la sera… (Pinkerton, Butterfly) 07:32
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act I: Viene la sera… (Pinkerton, Butterfly)
    Duration
    07:32
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Bruce Rankin, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  20. 19 Act I: Vogliatemi bene (Butterfly, Pinkerton) 06:28
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act I: Vogliatemi bene (Butterfly, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    06:28
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  21. 20 Act II: Introduction 01:02
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II: Introduction
    Duration
    01:02
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  22. 21 Act II: E Izaghi ed Izanami (Suzuki, Butterfly) 05:41
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II: E Izaghi ed Izanami (Suzuki, Butterfly)
    Duration
    05:41
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  23. 22 Act II: Un bel dì (Butterfly) 04:17
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II: Un bel dì (Butterfly)
    Duration
    04:17
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  24. Disc 2
  25. 1 Act II: C'è. Entrate. (Goro, Sharpless, Butterfly) 02:13
    Track
    1
    Title
    Act II: C'è. Entrate. (Goro, Sharpless, Butterfly)
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  26. 2 Act II: Mio marito m'ha promesso (Butterfly, Goro, Sharpless, Yamadori) 05:55
    Track
    2
    Title
    Act II: Mio marito m'ha promesso (Butterfly, Goro, Sharpless, Yamadori)
    Duration
    05:55
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter, Heikki Kilpelainen, Loren Christopher Lang
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  27. 3 Act II: Ora a noi. Qui sedete. (Sharpless, Butterfly) 02:41
    Track
    3
    Title
    Act II: Ora a noi. Qui sedete. (Sharpless, Butterfly)
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  28. 4 Act II: Due cose potrei fare (Butterfly, Sharpless) 01:59
    Track
    4
    Title
    Act II: Due cose potrei fare (Butterfly, Sharpless)
    Duration
    01:59
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  29. 5 Act II: E questo? … e questo? (Butterfly, Sharpless) 01:56
    Track
    5
    Title
    Act II: E questo? … e questo? (Butterfly, Sharpless)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  30. 6 Act II: Che tua madre dovrà (Butterfly, Sharpless) 02:49
    Track
    6
    Title
    Act II: Che tua madre dovrà (Butterfly, Sharpless)
    Duration
    02:49
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  31. 7 Act II: Vien sera. Io scendo… (Sharpless, Butterfly) 01:33
    Track
    7
    Title
    Act II: Vien sera. Io scendo… (Sharpless, Butterfly)
    Duration
    01:33
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  32. 8 Act II: Vespa! Rospo maledetto! (Suzuki, Butterfly, Goro) 01:38
    Track
    8
    Title
    Act II: Vespa! Rospo maledetto! (Suzuki, Butterfly, Goro)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour, Uwe Eikötter
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  33. 9 Act II: Il cannon del porto! (Suzuki, Butterfly) 03:55
    Track
    9
    Title
    Act II: Il cannon del porto! (Suzuki, Butterfly)
    Duration
    03:55
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Fredrika Brillembourg, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  34. 10 Act II: Il conto qual sia (Butterfly, Suzuki) 03:35
    Track
    10
    Title
    Act II: Il conto qual sia (Butterfly, Suzuki)
    Duration
    03:35
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  35. 11 Act II: Or vienmi ad adornar (Butterfly, Suzuki) 04:16
    Track
    11
    Title
    Act II: Or vienmi ad adornar (Butterfly, Suzuki)
    Duration
    04:16
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  36. 12 Act II: Nello shosi or farem tre forellini (Butterfly) 01:38
    Track
    12
    Title
    Act II: Nello shosi or farem tre forellini (Butterfly)
    Duration
    01:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  37. 13 Act II: Humming Chorus 02:27
    Track
    13
    Title
    Act II: Humming Chorus
    Duration
    02:27
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Bremen Theatre Chorus, Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  38. 14 Act II: Intermezzo 06:26
    Track
    14
    Title
    Act II: Intermezzo
    Duration
    06:26
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  39. 15 Act II: Dawn 02:06
    Track
    15
    Title
    Act II: Dawn
    Duration
    02:06
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  40. 16 Act II: Dormi amor mio (Butterfly, Suzuki) 01:58
    Track
    16
    Title
    Act II: Dormi amor mio (Butterfly, Suzuki)
    Duration
    01:58
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  41. 17 Act II: Chi sia? (Suzuki, Sharpless, Pinkerton) 02:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    Act II: Chi sia? (Suzuki, Sharpless, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Fredrika Brillembourg, Heikki Kilpelainen, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  42. 18 Act II: Io so che alle sue pene (Sharpless, Suzuki, Pinkerton) 01:55
    Track
    18
    Title
    Act II: Io so che alle sue pene (Sharpless, Suzuki, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    01:55
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Fredrika Brillembourg, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  43. 19 Act II: Non ve l'ho detto? (Sharpless, Pinkerton, Kate, Suzuki) 02:10
    Track
    19
    Title
    Act II: Non ve l'ho detto? (Sharpless, Pinkerton, Kate, Suzuki)
    Duration
    02:10
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Bruce Rankin, Kristen Strejc, Fredrika Brillembourg
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  44. 20 Act II: Suzuki! … Suzuki! … Dove sei? (Butterfly, Suzuki) 02:38
    Track
    20
    Title
    Act II: Suzuki! … Suzuki! … Dove sei? (Butterfly, Suzuki)
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  45. 21 Act II: Vespa! Voglio che tu risponda (Butterfly, Suzuki, Kate, Sharpless) 03:39
    Track
    21
    Title
    Act II: Vespa! Voglio che tu risponda (Butterfly, Suzuki, Kate, Sharpless)
    Duration
    03:39
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Fredrika Brillembourg, Kristen Strejc, Heikki Kilpelainen
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  46. 22 Act II: L'amico mio mi diede (Sharpless, Butterfly) 01:41
    Track
    22
    Title
    Act II: L'amico mio mi diede (Sharpless, Butterfly)
    Duration
    01:41
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  47. 23 Act II: Come una mosca prigioniera (Suzuki, Butterfly) 03:54
    Track
    23
    Title
    Act II: Come una mosca prigioniera (Suzuki, Butterfly)
    Duration
    03:54
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Heikki Kilpelainen, Svetlana Katchour
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold
  48. 24 Act II: Con onor muore (Butterfly, Pinkerton) 06:22
    Track
    24
    Title
    Act II: Con onor muore (Butterfly, Pinkerton)
    Duration
    06:22
    Composer
    Giacomo Puccini
    Performer
    Svetlana Katchour, Bruce Rankin
    Ensemble
    Bremen Philharmonic State Orchestra
    Conductor
    Günter Neuhold