Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxel, Cowan, Liang; Concon (1995 film) [Soundtrack]

1. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera
Composed by Giacomo Puccini
Performed by French Radio Choir with Constance Hauman , Ying Huang

Product Description

Amazon.com
This recording may attract unsuspecting buyers by virtue of being a soundtrack to a visually alluring film version that has been seen both in theaters and on TV. But as a purely audio experience, casting compromises are more apparent. In the title role, physically entrancing young soprano Ying Huang projects an attractive voice and definite musicality but it's simply too light for the dramatic heights this role must rise to. Other singers seem definitely "B" list, not bad, but with so many other better Butterfly recordings, not terribly competitive. --David Patrick Stearns

Tracks:

Madame Butterfly: Dovunque Al Mondo
Madame Butterfly: Bimba, Bimba, Non Piangere
Madame Butterfly: Un Bel Di
Madame Butterfly: Ora A Nol
Madame Butterfly: Coro A Bocca Chiusa
Madame Butterfly: Prelude
Madame Butterfly: Io So Che Alle Sue Pene
Madame Butterfly: E Sia! A Lui Devo Obbedir!

Customer Reviews:

5 stars for Ying Huang!.......2000-09-07

I bought this album simply for Ying Huang. And I was not disappointed. It's such a pleasure to listen to her voice: a purity of tone, a slight whisper sometimes at the start of a phrase, another something that I can't describe that happens when a long phrase is ending - a new tone, one so beautiful it can only be heard for perhaps 8 seconds in 75 minutes of album.

Ying Huang's voice is incredibly mature - not in an academic or learned sense, but innately so, as though this maturity had been with her all throughout her life. She knows exactly what she's doing, but knows intuitively.

It seems a love of singing has combined with some genetic gifts, creating a singer so wonderful that sometimes I doubt whether we are actually allowed to hear her. But we can, in this and several other albums. If I had millions of dollars I would produce a Ying Huang album every 6 months. My conscience now asks if this is true - shouldn't I give it to those in need? "Perhaps", I answer, "But the world will truly be better off with more of Ying Huang". She is a missionary for the soul whose message is beautiful as well as believable.

My only worry was that there was not enough Ying Huang on the album. The other singers and musicians are great. Only, I don't really know this. Compared with Ying Huang everybody else is reduced 10 fold. You only want to hear her, and when another part is sung you exclaim "No, what? why is that man shouting?!!". There is a nice duet somewhere in there though.

I suppose the best way to sum this all up is with a quote from one fine reviewer (who is a lot more economical than I) It's a good album "especially for the Ying Huang..."

A Must buy and hear!!.......1999-06-18

Best of all Madame Butterfly I've ever heard!! Especially for the Ying Huang....

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxel, Cowan, Liang; Concon (1995 film)

Average customer rating:

And The Geisha Sang: The Best Butterfly On Record
A Most Beautiful Butterfly
A Most Beautiful Butterfly
Opera's most intense tearjerker beautifully interpreted...
Give this one a listen...

Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxel, Cowan, Liang; Concon (1995 film)
Giacomo Puccini , Ying Huang , Richard Cowan , James Conlon , Orchestre de Paris , Choeurs de Radio France , and Ning Liang
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Puccini - Madame Butterfly / Huang, Troxell

ASIN: B000002C68
Release Date: 1996-04-23

Tracks:

Madame Butterfly: Overture
Madame Butterfly: Sorride Vostro Onore?
Madame Butterfly: Dovunque al mondo
Madame Butterfly: Amore o grillo, dir non saprei
Madame Butterfly: Ecco! Son giunte al sommo del pendio
Madame Butterfly: Gran ventura
Madame Butterfly: L'Imperial Commissario
Madame Butterfly: Vieni, amor mio!
Madame Butterfly: Ieri son salita tutta sola
Madame Butterfly: Tutti zitti!
Madame Butterfly: Ed eccoci in famiglia
Madame Butterfly: Bimba, bimba, non piangere
Madame Butterfly: Viene la sera
Madame Butterfly: Bimba dagli occhi pieni di malia
Madame Butterfly: E Izaghi ed Izanami
Madame Butterfly: Un bel di, vedremo

Tracks:

Madame Butterfly: C'e Entrate
Madame Butterfly: Yamadori, ancor
Madame Butterfly: Ora a noi
Madame Butterfly: Due cose potrei far
Madame Butterfly: E questo?... e questo?
Madame Butterfly: Vespa! Rospo maledetto!
Madame Butterfly: Scuoti quella fronda di cilegio
Madame Butterfly: Humming Chorus, Coro a bocca chiusa, Summchor, Choeur murmurant
Madame Butterfly: Oh eh! oh eh!
Madame Butterfly: Gia il sole
Madame Butterfly: Chi sia?
Madame Butterfly: Is so che alle sue pene
Madame Butterfly: Addio, fiorito asil
Madame Butterfly: Glielo dirai?
Madame Butterfly: Vespa! Voglio che tu risponda
Madame Butterfly: Tu? tu? tu? tu? tu? tu? tu? piccolo Iddio

Amazon.com

This recording may attract unsuspecting buyers by virtue of being a soundtrack to a visually alluring film version that has been seen both in theaters and on TV. But as a purely audio experience, casting compromises are more apparent. In the title role, physically entrancing young soprano Ying Huang projects an attractive voice and definite musicality but it's simply too light for the dramatic heights this role must rise to. Other singers seem definitely "B" list, not bad, but with so many other better Butterfly recordings, not terribly competitive. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews:

And The Geisha Sang: The Best Butterfly On Record.......2004-12-12

There is no doubt in my mind that this is THE "Madame Butterfly". Everything is as Puccini would have envisioned. Traditionally, a heavy, dramatic, lyric soprano sings the role of Ciao Ciao San. It has been the highlight of the careers of Maria Callas, Renata Scotto, Mirella Freni and Leontine Price. It's very rare when a lighter soprano sings Butterfly (Anna Moffo is one) but quite frankly, Butterfly is a 15 yr old girl with naivete and a passionate nature befitting a girl in love. In order to portray her effectively, a lighter soprano is most suitable. I think even Beverly Sills would have made a great Butterfly. Spinto sopranos would work well too. Renee Fleming would make a great Butterfly. The music written for the character is extremely difficult and high, but Ying Huang takes on the role with discipline, beauty and great dramatic power. Singing opposite to Ying Huang is tenor Richard Troxell. He makes a fine Pinkerton but there are times when he does not seem as commited to the character as Ying Huang is to hers. In fact, he even comes off as vapid, shallow and devil-may-care. Perhaps this is to portray him as a careless, insensitive and arrogant American naval captain. He does a fine job in his first aria as he describes the pleasures of travel and women. Cowan sings a great Consul and Liang is the best Susuki. Her dramatic mezzo voice is motherly, intelligent and colorful.

Conlon conducts with beauty and poise. Instead of overdoing the sentimental shmultz that it can easily become, he focuses on the subtle things- we hear the Oriental sounds in the music, in the chorus, the moments when the Japanese and American anthems (Miya Sama Miyasama's last notes and the first notes of "Star Spangled Banner", representing, to me anyways, that Ciao Ciao San is inevitably going to end her life while the "birth" of the American dream lives on in her son, who is taken away to be raised by Pinkerton's American wife. The duet is to die for, with the romantic sweep right on the money. This is the best version. Forget the big divas who make Butterfly sound old. Ying Huang is the real Butterfly as she is supposed to be sung.

A Most Beautiful Butterfly.......2003-05-23

This filmed Madame Butterfly, featuring a fresh-voiced Chinese soprano as Cio-Cio-San, has probably given a most authentic display of the tragic story, the intense drama originated from the clashes of East and West culture, as well as a glimpse of Japanese traditions.

Chinese soprano Ying Huang has given a most heartfelt singing and acting in this Madame Butterfly. With a light voice to tackle this dramatic and heavy-singing role, Huang's fine singing and sweet timbre has refreshed the Cio-Cio-San's youthfulness and enriched her exquisiteness. Her oriental background must have played an important role in understanding Cio-Cio-San's sincerity and sacrifice, and in naturally conveying the unique femininity of Japanese women. A beautiful lyric soprano, Huang sings Butterfly's arias with such emotion that she'll touch you deeply in the heart. Pinkerton, however antipathetic, is both vocally and visually charming. Richard Troxell's sentimental approach to the character and expressive singing has brought much conviction to Pinkerton's attractiveness to Butterfly. Their duet at the wedding night is full of poetic beauty and is one of the highlights of the opera. Other characters are also well rendered, including a well sung and handled Sharpless by Richard Cowan, and Suzuki by excellent mezzo Ning Liang.

Watching the DVD of this film is a wonderful experience, since every one demonstrates great acting besides the great singing. Listening to the sound track will let you focus on the music and singing, and there is no doubt that Huang's singing has made the listening a memorable experience.

A Most Beautiful Butterfly.......2003-05-23

Opera's most intense tearjerker beautifully interpreted..........2003-03-12

Butterfly is simply one of the most perfect operas ever written. It's unusual to attend a live performance where you can't hear audible sobs coming from your fellow audience members, if you yourself aren't too emotionally overcome to notice! Puccini is the master in this territory, and in Butterfly, he outdoes himself! Butterfly conquers in every aspect--melodically rich, dramatically powerful, musically and orchestrally innovative--above all, it shakes you inside.

This performance was done for a beautifully shot movie, which I'd also recommend, especially if you're a newcommer to opera. There could hardly be a better introduction to the art form. It may be true that this recording is a bit of a studio concoction, and that Ying Huang's voice is too small for Butterfly on the stage (as far as I know, on stage she's done Mozart and Haydn, but never Butterfly), but if your purist sensibilities can forgive that, I think you'll have to admit that she's close to the ideal interpreter. Butterfly, after all, is a teenage girl. A big dramatic voice may help in competing with Puccini's big orchestral moments, but it doesn't say "I'm a teenager". But Ying Huang's voice does. It's lovely, girlish, and innocent sounding. After listening to it, it's hard to picture Renata Scotto (whom I very much like) as Butterfly. I also like the other cast members. Richard Troxell may not compete with the greatest of all time, but he sings well and with passion.

Puccini is often disparaged and compared unfavorably with Verdi, because he and his operas are apolitical, and focus on a narrower range than Verdi's. But that's stupid. There are many of us who love politics. Yes, but everyone in the world has fallen in love, and felt the pain of rejection. And Puccini drives home those feelings with a power and sophistication that Verdi could only have dreamt about. Madama Butterfly is exhibit number one.

Give this one a listen..........2002-09-29

...and if you enjoy this album-- try watching the film!

In my opinion- as a non-opera person enamored with "Butterfly", and who has compared numerous versions- this is arguably one of THE best renditions out there (particularly noteworthy is the scene of the consul's visit and the reading of the letter; an outstanding piece of "vocal acting", and by far the most moving of any I've come across). Some reviewers of the film version criticize the singing; I cannot for the life of me hear why.

The extensive libretto contains the cast information, synopsis, and lyrics, all translated in English, Italian, German and French.

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