Butterfly in Melbourne

Opera Australia's Melbourne season of Madama Butterfly opened at the Arts Centre on Tuesday night, but so far I haven't found any reviews online. So if you were there, or if you're going to a later performance, consider yourself officially invited to share your impressions here. Is Nicole Youl a lovely Butterfly? I'd imagine she probably is. Conventional, I'm guessing, but sweet. I won't speculate about Rosario La Spina's Pinkerton. I'll have my chance to hear him in the role here next year, when he — lucky, lucky man — is paired first with Antoinette Halloran and then with Cheryl Barker.

One mildly alarming rumour has reached my virtual ears: that Tuesday night's premiere saw Pinkerton strip down to his underwear. Can it be true? Unwilling to trust my own memory, I broke my ban on Butterfly (I'm dieting before my January/February binge) and checked the DVD from 1997. And, as I expected, Pinkerton remains modestly attired throughout, removing nothing but his jacket, shoes and socks. Moffat Oxenbould is rehearsing this revival of his own magical production — has he been tweaking?

Update: One review found, at On Stage (and walls) Melbourne. No mention of the underwear...
Update #2: Breathe a sigh of relief: there's no underwear scene. See comments below.

Comments

[marcellous]

I can't and don't want to believe that rumour. Rosario in his underwear would be TMI.

[Sarah]

Well quite. It seems incredible that you would have Rosario in your cast and think "you know what, this production needs more nudity".

[Micahe]

No La Spina did not do a 'Teddy Tahu' he took off his coat and undid a few buttons.

[Sarah]

Halleluia! It was a third hand rumour, embroidered I suspect.

[LadyBlogger]

oh thank goodness.

[Michael]

... a few buttons of his shirt that is

[david]

Having seen Nicole Youl in Sydney as Butterfly she is as you say conventional but surprisingly effective! I say surprising not to diminish her in any way because her voice is certainly suited to the role and up to the demands, but because she conveys the delicacy and fragility and strength of Butterfly very well. I have never thought of her as a great actress but in this role I think she hits her acting straps very well and more than comes into her own.

[Michael]

I think it is actually the best acted role she has given to date. When I first saw her she was very much the young >dramatic< but her voice has a much lighter sound in Butterfly and she just does not do the 'big sob' version of the role to the extent that I was more moved by watching her hopes and illusions crumble while she put up a brave front. If you were watching this opera for the first time - does anyone ever see Butterfly for the first time?, I think it's genetically encoded - via this production the ending would come as shock, particularly as the actual knife plunge is delayed from its musical point until Pinkerton's off stage voice is heard.

[Sarah]

I'm glad that Nicole's Butterfly is such a success. I almost wish I could see her in the role - it's about time she won me over - however I wouldn't trade Cheryl for anything, so I will just have to wait for her Santuzza.
Re: knife plunges, I think my favourite is Mirella Freni's on film, where she waits until Pinkerton is actually standing in front of her.

[Michael]

Not crazy about fil - the way she suicides with Suzuki sitting next to her, they look protesters or something. And Goro's teeth are just too much.