Humming chorus from "Madame Butterfly"

[torben]

Hi friends

It's time for a change...

This morning where I made a new recording of an old favorite of mine - the "Humming chorus" from the beautiful opera by Puccini Madame Butterfly...

The story of the opera is very sad. In 1904, a U.S. Naval officer, Pinkerton, rents a house on a hill in Nagasaki, Japan for him and his soon-to-be wife, "Butterfly". Her real name is Ciocio-san, (the Japanese word for "butterfly" is chōchō). She is a 15-year-old Japanese girl whom he is marrying for convenience, since he intends to leave her once he finds a proper American wife, and since Japanese divorce laws are very lax. The wedding is to take place at the house, and Butterfly is so excited to marry an American that earlier, she secretly converted from Japanese religion to Christianity. After the wedding ceremony, her uninvited uncle, a bonze, who has found out about her conversion, comes to the house, curses her and orders all the guests to leave, which they do while renouncing her.

Three years later, Butterfly is still waiting for Pinkerton to return, as he had left shortly after their wedding. Her maid Suzuki keeps trying to convince her he is not coming back, but she will not listen to her. Goro, the marriage broker who arranged her marriage, keeps trying to marry her off again, but she won't listen to him either. The American Consul, Sharpless, comes to the house with a letter which he has received from Pinkerton in which he is asked to break some news to Butterfly that he is coming back to Japan, but he cannot bring himself to finish it, because Butterfly becomes very excited to hear that Pinkerton is coming back. Sharpless asks Butterfly what she would do if Pinkerton were not to return. She then reveals that she gave birth to Pinkerton's son after he had left and asks Sharpless to tell him.

From the hill house, Butterfly sees Pinkerton's ship arriving in the harbour. She and Suzuki prepare for his arrival, and begin to wait. Suzuki and the child fall asleep, but Butterfly stays up all night waiting for Pinkerton to arrive. At this point the off-stage chorus hums this wordless, melancholy tune:

https://www.box.com/s/3iaot4y2gapyr9vlvq1v

Have a great weekend

Torben

[trebor1950]

Your excellence shines through yet again - a very emotional and meaningful piece put together with brilliance.
Thank you.

Rob

[torben]

Hi Robert

thanks for such a kind review! I'm blushing ... :smiley-happy110:

Torben

[Oboe]

Torben,

You should be absolutely proud of yourself for that arrangement you made and played.

A wonderful arrangement.  Very moving, if you know what I mean.

Larry / Oboe

[torben]

Hi Larry

I am absolutely proud of your review! Thanks a million!

Torben