Course Details
Madame Butterfly: An Introduction to the Opera
There are currently no upcoming dates for this course.
Personal Interest
Music
Victoria University Professional and Executive Development
Victoria University Community Continuing Education
Level 2, Rutherford House, 23 Lambton Quay, Wellington City
After Hours
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
$45.00
Early Bird Discount available until 2 weeks prior to the course start date $40.50 incl GST
Early Bird Discount available until 2 weeks prior to the course start date $40.50 incl GST
Overview:
This seminar introduces Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly – one of the best loved and most performed operas. Teenaged geisha Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) believes completely in her marriage “in Japanese fashion” to an American naval officer, but it ends in inevitable tragedy. The opera’s plot was sourced in part by Puccini and his librettists from a short story and play that Puccini saw in London.
Puccini’s melodies, at once entrancing and dramatically and emotionally compelling, have a delicacy unique to this Japanese-flavoured opera. The Act 1 love duet, Act 2 flower duet and Cio-Cio-San’s aria “Un bel di” (One fine day) combine this mastery.
The opera depends entirely on the challenging title role. Cio-Cio-San is a finely drawn character; young and naive in the first Act, she becomes in Act 3 impressive in her isolation and determined resignation.
Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly features in the NBR New Zealand Opera’s 2013 programme at the St James Theatre, Wellington from 11-18 May.
Target audience:
This seminar is for anyone with an interest in opera.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this seminar, students will have increased their understanding and appreciation of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
Course outline:
This Sunday afternoon seminar introduces the opera featured in the NBR New Zealand Opera’s 2013 programme, which runs from 11–18 May at the St James Theatre, Wellington.
Relevant links:
NBR New Zealand Opera
For further information:
Community Continuing Education, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington
Phone 04 463 6556, Email: conted@vuw.ac.nz
This seminar introduces Giacomo Puccini’s Madame Butterfly – one of the best loved and most performed operas. Teenaged geisha Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) believes completely in her marriage “in Japanese fashion” to an American naval officer, but it ends in inevitable tragedy. The opera’s plot was sourced in part by Puccini and his librettists from a short story and play that Puccini saw in London.
Puccini’s melodies, at once entrancing and dramatically and emotionally compelling, have a delicacy unique to this Japanese-flavoured opera. The Act 1 love duet, Act 2 flower duet and Cio-Cio-San’s aria “Un bel di” (One fine day) combine this mastery.
The opera depends entirely on the challenging title role. Cio-Cio-San is a finely drawn character; young and naive in the first Act, she becomes in Act 3 impressive in her isolation and determined resignation.
Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly features in the NBR New Zealand Opera’s 2013 programme at the St James Theatre, Wellington from 11-18 May.
Target audience:
This seminar is for anyone with an interest in opera.
Learning objectives:
By the end of this seminar, students will have increased their understanding and appreciation of Puccini’s opera Madame Butterfly.
Course outline:
This Sunday afternoon seminar introduces the opera featured in the NBR New Zealand Opera’s 2013 programme, which runs from 11–18 May at the St James Theatre, Wellington.
Relevant links:
NBR New Zealand Opera
For further information:
Community Continuing Education, Victoria University of Wellington, PO Box 600, Wellington
Phone 04 463 6556, Email: conted@vuw.ac.nz
Teacher:
Peter Baillie is a well-known Wellington tenor with a long and distinguished career in Europe and Australia. He sings and teaches opera in New Zealand and internationally.
Peter Baillie is a well-known Wellington tenor with a long and distinguished career in Europe and Australia. He sings and teaches opera in New Zealand and internationally.