Cheap Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell (DVD) (Frédéric Mitterrand) Price

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Customer Reviews of Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell

Cheers for F. Mitterrand
When considering the characteristics of opera, it naturally follows that the genre would be difficult to film. Not so for Mitterrand with his Madame Butterfly; from casting to direction to filming, Mitterrand wins. The title role must do far more than "look Asian," she must also live the role...even more so when being filmed as "Butterfly." Ying Huang proves herself a sensitive and sensible actress as well as a singer with an expressive and powerful voice. Richard Troxell as "B. F. Pinkerton" shines in his role, allowing the callousness of his character clash with an accidental love. Troxell uses the flexibility of the film medium to act as many opera singers seem unable to do upon finding themselves on a stage. In fact, the power of this video lies in the fact that the singers realize that they have the opportunity to be better actors than they could be in a staged version of the same work. There are retakes, more natural positions, beautiful scenery, and an amazing acoustic, even when outdoors! All in all,it is a fine work by Frederic Mitterand, Huang, Troxell, Cowan ("Sharpless"), Liang ("Suzuki"), and the rest. None of the roles had less than an accomplished actor and singer; even the role of "Kate Pinkerton" played by Constance Hauman was rendered with a delicate hand aware of a conflicting position and an involuntary hostility. Enjoyable for the everyday opera viewer as a fresh, beautiful feast for the eye and ear, and a first-rate film for the opera newcomer.

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Very Beautiful
A very lovely film. Ms. Ying Huang is a very touching Butterfly, and Troxell makes a great Pinkerton, he has just the right smile for this role. Magnificently filmed with some effects not possible on an operatic stage-like looking out onto a real seascape horizon when Butterfly awaits Pinkerton's return. Ying Huang's portrayal of Butterfly will break your heart-she captures Butterfly's sense of young innocence very well and does a very fine job acting out her hope and anguish. Finally, a Butterfly who looks almost young enough for the role she is portraying! Suzuki is also well portrayed here.

The Humming Chorus is set to early black and white footage of Japan to great effect. The subtitles are well done, and the drama is tastefully presented. I first learned about this opera when I was viewing a biographical video of Shoghi Effendi, and his wife recounted that he really enjoyed the opera Madame Butterfly. Then I listened to CD's and fell in love with Puccini operas and most other operas too, but no CD will equal this integrated audio AND visual presentation. I feel like this film gave me a better appreciation of those great arias and choruses. They take on a new meaning.

The operatic and cinematic elements were well integrated, and the cast was terrific. A truly magnificent opera, a great production, and an outstanding film. Very highly recommended! I hope more movies of such exceptional quality are produced from great operas.

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Is Cio Cio San an indigenous character?
A friend of me, who is an expert antropologist, said that the similitudes between the japanese women and the Nahuatl women from Mexico are so evident, that he theorizes that they have the same origin. Both Nahuatl and Japanese languages sound very similar. But the amazing thing about this wonderful opera is that the loving behaviour of Cio Cio San a.k.a. Madama Butterfly and the love and shy glances to his beloved, are the same that the nahuatl women take to their husbands. Is a mistery, which makes more captivating, this absolutely wonderful movie. Huang is a so tender, yet powerful Butterfly that makes you smile, cry and reflect at the same time. She deserves an Academy award for this splendid performance. And the director: Wonder how he finds that absolute perfection in directing a chinese woman to perform a lovely japanese girl? The orchestra is wonderful too. Troxell makes an easy going Pinkerton sound perfect. It's an easy gospel, but full of deep perfections.