File:Madame Butterfly - 'In everlasting torment', by Byam Shaw.jpg

Identifier: favouriteoperasf00hadd (find matches)
Title: Favourite operas from Mozart to Mascagni : their plots, history and music
Year: 1910 (1910s)
Authors: Hadden, J. Cuthbert (James Cuthbert), 1861-1914
Subjects: Operas
Publisher: New York : Thomas Nelson
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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ay tomake the heroine stand out—a picturesque, patheticfigure, commanding admiration, love, and sympathy.Nothing interferes with, everything adds to, themain interest of the work—the fate of that quaint,fascinating Geisha, the loving, lovable, heroic littleButterfly. No wonder the book proved an in-spiration to the composer. Though the scene of Madam Butterfly islaid in Japan, the story is not essentially Japanese,any more than the plot of Faust is essentiallyGerman. It is, in fact, a presentation of a uni-versal theme— Mans love is of his life a thing apart;Tis womans whole existence. Act 1.—The curtain rises on a Japanese house,with its terrace and garden. Below, in the back-ground, are the bay, harbour, and town of Nagasaki.From a back-room Goro, the marriage-broker, leadsin Pinkerton obsequiously, drawing his attention to the details of the structure. They go down into thegarden, and the servants whom Goro has engagedfor the household are introduced to their new master. 300
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In everlasting torment May your wicked soul perish THE ST Oil Y Then the broker, while keeping a look-out for thebride and her party, enumerates the expectedguests. The first to arrive is Sharpless, the AmericanConsul, breathless after climbing the steep ascent to the house. Pinkerton, having ordered refreshments,discusses the beautiful view with his friend, and tellshim that he has bought this picturesque dwellingfor 999 years, with the option of cancelling the con-tract every month. Inviting Sharpless to be seated,he gives him a taste of his philosophy in a character-istic song. ** The whole world over, on businessand pleasure, the Yankee travels all danger scorning.His anchor boldly he casts at random, until asudden squall upsets his ship, then up go sails andrigging. And life is not worth living if he cant winthe best and fairest of each country, and the heart ofeach maid. Acting on this theory, he is now marrying inJapanese fashion, tied for 999 years, yet free toannul the marriag

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