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Programme Note

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Cast List:
   MADAMA BUTTERFLY (Cho-Cho-San): Soprano
   SUZUKI, her servant: Mezzo-Soprano
   KATE PINKERTON: Mezzo-Soprano
   B. F. PINKERTON, Lieutenant in the United States Navy: Tenor
   SHARPLESS, United States Consul at Nagasaki: Baritone
   GORO, a marriage broker: Tenor
   PRINCE YAMADORI: Baritone
   THE BONZE, Cho-Cho-San's uncle: Bass
   YAKUSIDÉ: Baritone
   THE IMPERIAL COMMISSIONER: Bass
   THE OFFICIAL REGISTRAR: Baritone
   CHO-CHO-SAN'S MOTHER: Mezzo-Soprano
   THE AUNT: Mezzo-Soprano
   THE COUSIN: Soprano
   SORROW, Cho-Cho-San's child
   Cho-Cho-San's Relatives and Friends, Servants

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Synopsis:
Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer, falls for the beautiful young geisha Cio-Cio San (Butterfly) and the pair agree to marry. However the selfish Pinkerton sees the marriage as a short-term arrangement while Cio-Cio San is prepared to sacrifice her culture and her disapproving family for the man she loves. Against the advice of the American Consul Sharpless, the wedding ceremony goes ahead. Pinkerton returns to America and Butterfly confidently awaits his return with their child and her servant Suzuki. Pinkerton eventually returns to Japan with his new American wife and learns that he has a son. Butterfly is overwhelmed by grief at her husband’s unfaithfulness and kills herself.