Mme Butterfly: The One Man Opera

This sequel to Madam Butterfly imagines what happens in the aftermath of Puccini’s turn-of-the century tearjerker.

The lovechild of Butterfly’s affair with the rakish American Lieutenant Pinkerton is all grown up and looking for his runaway father. He tracks him to America where Pinkerton is now Governor of Georgia.

Clutching only a suitcase, an image of his grandfather and his late mother’s beautiful wedding fan, Tomisaburo waits in the vast foyer of Pinkerton’s mansion. And waits, and waits…

This opera, that will include live singing to recorded music, is inspired by the Noh Theatre tradition of Japanese storytelling, dance and masks. The music has been written by composer Michael Finnissey and responds to themes from Puccini’s original score.