Madame butterfly story origin
Madame butterfly story opera.
5 things to know about Madama Butterfly
1° Far-reaching origins
Puccini chose the subject of his sixth opera after attending a performance of Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan, a one act drama by David Belasco, in London in June 1900.
Belasco had, in turn, borrowed the subject matter for his drama from American writer John Luther Long’s short story Madame Butterfly, published in 1898.
Madame butterfly story origin
Long’s story is based on the memories of his sister Jennie Correll, who had travelled to Japan with her husband, a Methodist missionary, and was influenced by Pierre Loti's 1887 novel Madame Chrysanthème. Although Puccini neither understood English, nor ever set foot in Japan, he was so inspired by Belasco’s play that he felt the urge to turn it into an opera.
2° From failure to success
Before becoming one of the world’s best loved and most staged operas, Puccini composed five different versions of it.
The original version in two acts premiered on 17 February 1904 at La Scala