Madame Butterfly: The Trace of the Butterfly – The Story of the Opera DVD

UPC: 5037899013649 

Region 0 PAL DVD

Product Details:

• Format: DVD
• Title: Madame Butterfly: The Trace of the Butterfly – The Story of the Opera
• Description: A documentary that provides a superb introduction to Puccini's masterpiece Madame Butterfly, centering on a production staged at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Tuscany. This insightful exploration of the opera's themes and musical expression is brought to life with substantial performance extracts.
• Artists:Conductor: Keri-Lynn Wilson
  • Madame Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San): Hui He
  • F.B. Pinkerton: Stefano Secco
  • Sharpless: Antonio Salvadori
  • Suzuki: Mariella Guarnera
  • Kate Pinkerton: Rosa Anna Peraino
  • Goro: Orfeo Zanzetti
  • Le Bonze: Riccardo Ferrari
• Stage Director: Vivien Hewitt
• Musical Consultant: Daniel Cohen-Levinas
• Actress: Thuy Nguyen
• Chorus Master: Stefano Visconti
• Editor: Marie-France Cuenot
• Associate Producer: Serge Guez
• Producer & Director: Marie Blanc-Hermeline
• Recording: Filmed at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Italy
• Language: English narration, some Italian and French with English subtitles
• Running Time: Approx. 50 minutes
• Aspect Ratio: 16:9
• Region Code: 0 (All regions)
• Publisher: Digital Classics, a DCD Media company
• Production: Produced by AUDIOVISIOCONCEPT with the participation of France 5 and Mezzo, in association with Fondazione Festival Pucciniano
• Website: www.digitalclassics.co.uk

Product Features

• Insightful Documentary: Provides a comprehensive introduction to Puccini's Madame Butterfly, exploring its themes, music, and enduring appeal.
• Exclusive Footage: Features substantial performance extracts from a production at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Puccini's hometown.
• Renowned Artists: Starring Chinese soprano Hui He as Madame Butterfly and tenor Stefano Secco as Pinkerton.
• Expert Direction: Directed by Vivien Hewitt and conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson, offering a compelling visual and musical experience.
• Educational Content: Includes commentary from musicologist Daniel Cohen-Levinas, enhancing the viewer's understanding of the opera.
• Accessible Format: All-region DVD with English narration and subtitles, suitable for international audiences.
• High-Quality Production: Presented in 16:9 aspect ratio with clear audio and visual quality.

Overview

Over a century after its premiere, Giacomo Puccini's Madame Butterfly remains one of the most beloved operas in the repertoire, celebrated for its profound expression of love, loss, hope, and despair. Madame Butterfly: The Trace of the Butterfly – The Story of the Opera is a captivating documentary that delves into the heart of this timeless masterpiece. Centered around a production from the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, Tuscany—Puccini's own hometown—the film offers an intimate look at the opera's creation, themes, and emotional depth.

Directed by Vivien Hewitt and conducted by Keri-Lynn Wilson, the documentary features Chinese soprano Hui He in the role of Cio-Cio-San (Madame Butterfly), delivering a performance that beautifully captures the character's innocence and tragic fate. Tenor Stefano Secco stars as Lieutenant F.B. Pinkerton, whose actions set the tragic events in motion. The film combines insightful commentary with substantial performance excerpts, providing both an educational and emotionally resonant experience.

Whether you are a long-time opera enthusiast or new to Puccini's work, this documentary offers valuable insights into why Madame Butterfly continues to touch hearts worldwide.

Interesting Facts

• Puccini Festival Setting: The documentary is filmed at the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago, an annual event dedicated to celebrating Puccini's operas in the place where he lived and composed many of his works.
• Cultural Collaboration: The production brings together international talent, including Chinese soprano Hui He and Italian tenor Stefano Secco.
• Educational Insights: Musicologist Daniel Cohen-Levinas provides expert analysis, enhancing the viewer's appreciation of the opera's musical and thematic intricacies.
• Historical Significance: Madame Butterfly premiered in 1904 at La Scala in Milan and has since become a staple of the operatic canon, noted for its beautiful melodies and poignant story.
• Visual Storytelling: The documentary not only presents performance footage but also incorporates interviews and behind-the-scenes glimpses into the production process.

Publishers

• Released by: Digital Classics, a DCD Media company
• Produced by: AUDIOVISIOCONCEPT with participation from France 5 and Mezzo, in association with Fondazione Festival Pucciniano

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