“MADAME BUTTERFLY.”

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 1055, 26 May 1910, Page 18

“MADAME BUTTERFLY.”

SOMETHING ABOUT ITS COMPOSER. THE GREAT PUCCINI, THE IDOL OF ITALY, The fact that the J, C. Williamson management will stage in Auckland at His Majesty’s Theatre on Monday, June 20th, Puccini’s beautiful opera, “ Madame Butterfly,” will lend additional interest to a sketch of the composer, written by Arnaldo Fraccaroli, in the “ Corriere della Sera” of Milan, and specially translated for readers of “ The World’s News.” ...' During the summer the maestro lives at Terre del Lago, where he seeks inspiration for new harmonies. He winters in Milan, , where he is to be seen almost daily in the galleriain Milan fie composes only , as the spirit moves him, and —catches new colds ! . ’ At Terre del Lago he is discovered by the interviewer seated at a piano, which has a tail fis long as- Halley’s comet. At a table-near by is a pile of music MSS- Puccini is at work on his new opera, “ The Girl of the Golden West.” Before him is. the first proof of the score, which he has annotated with fantastic marks, looking very like flies stranded in tanglefoot. Some of these marks are inexplicable, even to the composer, for he pauses as he reads, and every now and then stares intensely as much as to say, “ Now, what is it I intended to convey there?” Then he remembers, and resumes, trying the results in runs up and down the piano keyboard. From this instrument he caresses sweet melodies —and explosions. He returns to the score, and without hesitation or anything resembling tentativeness on his part, he populates the stave, on, above, and below, with little black dots, with slurs, clefs, and accidents —musical accidents, of course ! All this is done without any apparent method, and between puffs from a cigarette and sips of tea. In Milan, as at Terre del Lago, Puccini lives as a rich man. He has wealth and ease, and we can say so without risk, for the income tax assessments are already ouc ! His operas have been given in every country, from New York to Yokohama, from Helsingfors to Sydney. They are popular in the theatres dedicated to great music throughout the world. He can travel anywhere with the certainty of hearing music sighing the sadness of “ Mimi,” breathing the anguish of “ Madame Butterfly,” telling

the petulance of Musetta, the love and romance of ■“ Des Grieux.” of “ Manon Descant.” In every country .Puccini has a kind of musical citizenship. Where he has never been the voices of his creations have sung him to fame.

But 25 years ago he had no such world citizenship, no wandering creations, no money. He was then in Milan, but under what different conditions ? On the night his first opera, “ De Villis” was produced at the Dal Verme, he had in his pockets but fourpence—good money, but very little,of it. His librettist, Ferdinando Fontana, had very little more, perhaps one shilling. But for a poet it was right that it should be so ! The remembrance of that first performance is always with the maestro, though he cannot even yet explain his exact emotions, such as when standing in the “ wings” he first caught the applause of the audience. He can recall the hand of one of the artists taking his own and leading him before the curtain.

And were you at least well dressed that night?” asked the interviewer of him-

"Oh, yes,” the composer replied, ‘ I was almost all in black. I had a coat the colour of coffee —rather strong coffee I And now let us take tea.” Puccini is very fond of tea, and drinks it incessantly.

Before him hangs the portrait of a nice little old man of the last cenr.ury, who looks down impassively on his grandson. Yes, this is a painting of Puccini's grandfather, who was an organist at Ducca, as well as a composer. It is well known that in the family there has always been the gift of music in general and rhe love of the organ in particular. The composer of “ Madame Butterfly” had a penchant for church music as had his grandfather. But sacred music came to him in dreams of love, visions of beauty, in poetic melancholy, and in caressing caprices. Instead, therefore, of being divine inspiration, it was the music of human emotions —of the passions of mankind. It was said of his grandfather that he often wrote music with a profane soul ! Whatever truth or exaggeration may be in this, it is true of Puccini that he found his proper medium of expression when he turned his attention to opera.

Hanging beside the picture is the graceful little slip of a girl, with large almond eyes and black hair, arranged like a little kiosk on her head. On her lips is an innocent smile- This is " Butterfly,” as painted by Metlikowitz. She is the beloved of Puccini—poor little Butterfly, who had her wings burnt so cruelly at the fire of love.

“ From the very first time I saw it at the theatre I loved the story of ‘Butterfly,’ ” said Puccini. “ Her innocence, the indefinite melancholy of the period of expectation —the waiting; her faith, followed by the brief joy at Pinkerton’s return. Then the terrible awakening to the fact that she had been deceived. It was so human a story, with its love, its anguish, its subdued emotions I I love to write my music of hopes, of illusions, of days of joy and days of sadness. My wish is now that I may find another story like ‘ Butterfly.’ I wonder will I? I, too, wait and hope ”

THE MUSICAL “ALL BLACKS.”

Mr. John Black, manager and proprietor of the musical “ All Blacks” and living pictures, called in on Monday. He reports very successful business all through the country, as also in Australia. The company has now been on tour for five years, and is likely to disband at the close of its New Zealand engagement, Mrs. Black and other members of the family having decided upon permanently retiring from the profession. They are meanwhile proceeding through the North, giving their concert and picture programmes at Helensville, Dargaville and Whangarei, thence proceeding to Waihi and the Thames, and working back to Auckland through the Waikato. Mr. Black expects to be away for something like three weeks. He was unable to say whether he would be opening in Auckland on his return.