Butterfly at the Cinema

[gradus]

Withers fully wrung by this production, by some way the best I've ever heard. I think a recording of this performance is due to be shown in cinemas shortly and if you like Puccini don't miss it.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I was at ROH last night for this. I've only seen Butterfly once before (long ago) having considered it too cruel a plot - so I cannot compare performances. However, the chance to see Jaho drew me in and I'm glad I went. A strong cast and Jaho, and the evening as a whole, was pretty wonderful.
I'm considering going to a cinema screening as well - you can search for cinema dates (on a cursory search, within the next week or so) here:

http://www.roh.org.uk/cinemas

I went to the insight evening - informative, and a chance to see Ms Jaho out of costume and more besides.... It was however streamed - it took some searching to find the page, and can be accessed here:

http://www.roh.org.uk/news/watch-insights-into-the-music-history-and-staging-of-puccinis-madama-butterfly

Lastly, I found Marcelo Puente (Pinkerton) had a somewhat chameleon like voice (mixed metaphor). At the insight and at various times on the night, my reaction was "baritone with a big range". And in performance with a wide vibrato at times, which was not intolerable (to me) but nonetheless occurred. OTOH, in Act II part II, he was able to project a full tenor sound over a ff orchestra and other soloists. Unusual** in my experience. However, he looked the part, etc etc, in the final analysis the role is not that extensive, and it did not detract from a wonderful evening.

[David-G]

I also was at the ROH last night. I am not normally a great enthusiast for Puccini, but I can't recommend this highly enough. It's in various London cinemas on Sunday afternoon. Go !!!

[Dave2002]

Is this the saddest opera ever? Staggeringly good in the cinema - and the close ups probably make the drama even more intense.

How Pappano gets such good results I'm not sure - his technique is, er, unusual - and does he chew gum, or hasn't he finished his dinner before the opera starts? Brilliant musician, but with some idiosyncracies.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I remembered to look in to this thread to heartily recommend the cinema relay, and see that Dave has just beat me to it. Having been live last Thursday, I was keen to see it in the cinema so went yesterday - agreed it is staggeringly good - Jaho simply more wonderful on a 2nd hearing and its no problem, for me, to see more in close ups (or closer than in the House) and very rewarding to see it so. Plus some rehearsal clips, context, and a session of Jaho with Pappano discussing, with demonstrations, the role with Pappano at the piano.
Also the idiosyncracy of Puente's voice are not so apparent in the cinema, and he looks and acts the part. In David-G's words (above) - if you can - Go!

(I know there are some further screenings on further dates this week for sure (link in #2) - luck of the draw as to whether that is anywhere near you......)

[Cockney Sparrow]

How Pappano gets such good results I'm not sure - his technique is, er, unusual - and does he chew gum, or hasn't he finished his dinner before the opera starts? Brilliant musician, but with some idiosyncracies.

I don't know - I have no inside info. There was a comment on here that the orchestra's "over the top" enthusiasm for any guest conductor could infer lesser admiration for Pappano. From my point of view we are lucky to have had Pappano for so long in London. I'm sure he isn't perfect but he has also has great commitment and an ability to communicate.
I wonder whether ROH can really compete on the international stage (fees I suppose I mean) and whether artists come partly to work with him? That may be for various reasons, including being able to record whole works. Funding may get a lot worse depending on how the economy goes post leaving the EU. I wonder who, in the final analysis will be keen to apply when he moves on - let us hope, well I hope, that is some years down the line. (We know - ROH has said - getting last minute replacements for ailing artists will likely become a border control nightmare....).

I didn't attend ROH before the redevelopment with the regularity I do now - but my impression is that, whilst the "names" aren't always as recognisable and starry as in the past, the quality is more consistent - on the vocal and musical side. Its quite a while ago I left ROH feeling there were too many flaws and negatives - maybe that the performers started out pretty ordinary in a number of aspects and for various reasons they went downhill from there.... As to producers - well its a lottery and I presume the ROH has a balancing act - not leaving productions set in aspic, but engaging talented producers and having to trust they will take the piece in a valid direction. Compared with the ***s poor management at the Coliseum over the last decade or so (charted in the now suspended Intermezzo Blog) the ROH is a model of achievement and efficiency.

As to Pappano's conducting - seen in the shots of himself and the orchestra in the intermission between Act II pts I and II - seems to me he is deeply bound up in the music and just has a chewing jaw motion - a mannerism a bit like the Gordon Brown jaw chutting out....
Also, as I'm raising a further post in this thread - don't forget there are further screenings. This week. And some advice - don't put all your faith in the tool listing cinemas (link in above post) when using the "Madama Butterfly" or even "All shows in the next week" (or 30 days) filters. If using those filters doesn't bring up the screening you are looking for then I suggest using "All" and entering UK in the location box - then search the cinemas near you with the dialogue box popping up on the map marker. I know there are screenings at cinemas which don't show up; for example one cinema only brings up one date for Butterfly on the ROH tool, but when you go into the cinema's own site there are 2 showings - one on Tues - today, the other on Wednesday.

Have to say I did a live/cinema comparison for the Glyndebourne Tristan some years ago. I must keep track of these relays, and go more - give the Met a try as well - they are hardly inferior, but different, to the live experience. And it takes rail travel out of the equation (the only anxiety is the cellophane rattlers and popcorn munchers but so far I've been pretty lucky in that regard).

[Dave2002]

And some advice - don't put all your faith in the tool listing cinemas (link in above post) when using the "Madama Butterfly" or even "All shows in the next week" (or 30 days) filters. If using those filters doesn't bring up the screening you are looking for then I suggest using "All" and entering UK in the location box - then search the cinemas near you with the dialogue box popping up on the map marker. I know there are screenings at cinemas which don't show up; for example one cinema only brings up one date for Butterfly on the ROH tool, but when you go into the cinema's own site there are 2 showings - one on Tues - today, the other on Wednesday.

I'm not having much luck finding more showings of Madam Butterfly, other than one in Dunkerque later on. I was hoping to pass on the information re the London area to friends.

[Cockney Sparrow]

I'm not having much luck finding more showings of Madam Butterfly, other than one in Dunkerque later on. I was hoping to pass on the information re the London area to friends.

Sorry about that - seems like there are a few showings about in 50 minutes time - Tues, today. I do know of one in Wens in Bury St Edmunds but there seem to be few showings past Tuesday. Let's hope they show it again at a future date (I'm not sure ROH do this - I know Glyndebourne do re-run cinema screenings). Otherwise its wait for the DVD, surely it will be issued as a DVD - and ideally find a friend with a home cinema !

[Dave2002]

Sorry about that - seems like there are a few showings about in 50 minutes time - Tues, today. I do know of one in Wens in Bury St Edmunds but there seem to be few showings past Tuesday. Let's hope they show it again at a future date (I'm not sure ROH do this - I know Glyndebourne do re-run cinema screenings). Otherwise its wait for the DVD, surely it will be issued as a DVD - and ideally find a friend with a home cinema !

The other option - cough up and go to see it really live - doesn't seem possible either. As far as I can see all the performances are sold out.

Maybe the cinema shows will come round again, once the live run has finished. Clearly other people also think this is one to see. Brilliant - though I'm not sure I could take it again. Far too involving. One of the best "live/encore" cinema productions I've seen.

[LHC]

Is this the saddest opera ever? Staggeringly good in the cinema - and the close ups probably make the drama even more intense.

How Pappano gets such good results I'm not sure - his technique is, er, unusual - and does he chew gum, or hasn't he finished his dinner before the opera starts? Brilliant musician, but with some idiosyncracies.

I think Pappano's odd jaw motion is caused by him singing along, rather than chewing gum. If you sit anywhere close to him, you can hear him making rhythmic 'chuff chuff' noises as he is conducting. Its a bit like tennis players who grunt everytime they hit the ball.

I'm sure it is entirely unconscious, and he is much quieter than he used to be. I recall reading a few years ago that he had been asked to try and reduce the volume of his 'singing' after people started complaining about the noise from the amphitheatre!

He's not the first conductor to produce extraneous sounds when conducting. Colin Davis was well known for humming along with the music, and Gergiev also does it.

[Nimrod]

I completely agree gradus. I went to see it in our local cinema in Northamptonshire, a first experience for me though I've seen Butterfly live four times, but never in London. I found it hugely enjoyable, the sound was good and the camera shots excellent and I'm looking forward to seeing Otello in June from the ROH. I thought Pappanos' conducting superb, best I've heard since Barbirolli.