"This is a podcast about music with no fixed format—I talk about music, share my thoughts, and explore the studies, work, life, and ideas of musicians. I'll also invite my friends for casual, fun conversations about topics that matter to us. And of course, you're welcome to leave a comment and let me know what you'd like to hear!

I want to talk about everything related to music and musicians. I also hope to create a space where everyone can connect and exchange ideas. Most of all, I hope this podcast can be a companion to you."

Host: Beatrice

In this first episode, I share a discussion I led in my Women and Opera class about Madama Butterfly. With everyone's permission, I recorded our conversation and am excited to share it with you. Thank y'all for your support!

00:00 Highlights

05:18 The basic storyline of Madama Butterfly

06:18 Differences between the original short story and the opera

07:40 Criticism and controversies surrounding the opera

17:18 How different productions have reinterpreted the opera

49:04 Puccini's revisions and the multiple versions of Madama Butterfly

This opera is one of my favorites, but it's also a challenging work for directors due to its cultural and ethical complexities.  Our class included students from different cultures, backgrounds, and fields of study, each bringing a unique perspective. It was a meaningful conversation, and I'm happy we recorded it.

Slides:

How an Asian American Opera Singer Found Her Voice Amid a Reckoning with Race

Does translation affect the musicality of the original opera?

"Un bel di" sung in Japanese by Janet Szepei Todd

Madame Butterfly 2023 Bregenz Festival

New Orleans Opera Association - Madame Butterfly 2022 Program

One topic we didn't have time to discuss comes from David Levin's article, "Producing Puccini Today". Levin suggests that when Puccini's operas were first created, they aimed to portray “real people” and “real life.” Over time, this sense of realism transformed into a nostalgic and comforting experience. He compares Puccini’s operas, like La Bohème, to The Nutcracker or A Christmas Carol—familiar, sentimental, and immersive rather than thought-provoking. In recent years, some directors have sought to challenge this nostalgic perception, reinterpreting Puccini's opera in modern ways.

This made me think: What do you expect from opera? Should it be a time capsule of emotions, or should it provoke thought?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!