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Madame Butterfly

1996, Movie, NR, 135 mins

Madame Butterfly: Review

This straightforward adaptation lets Puccini's wildly passionate music speak for itself -- and, for once, an Asian sings the title role. Yin Huang, as the hapless geisha Cio-Cio-San, is an expressive soprano with the looks and acting ability to withstand tight close-ups; Richard Troxell is a sturdy Pinkerton. Director Frederic Mitterrand (son of the former French president) acknowledges the opera's racial subtext without flogging it to death. All in all, it's a rewarding musical and visual experience, especially for opera lovers who can't afford those insanely expensive seats at the Met. leave a comment