The Parnassus Club met Dec. 14 at the home of Chari Miller with six members present. No business was conducted.  
The program was Pucinni’s Madame Butterfly. Chari presented a video produced by the San Diego Opera called “Opera Talk” on which Dr. Nick Reveles tells the background which led up to the creation by Giacommo Puccini of one of the world’s most well known and often performed opera’s, Madame Butterfly. It was almost not completed because Pucinni was nearly killed in an automobile accident which left his leg severely mangled. He did survive but had lost interest in the project until his publisher inspired him to come back and complete the opera. It is interesting to note that the initial production was done before the complete opera had finished being printed by the publisher. The performers learned their lyrics, lines, etc. from the Publisher’s proofs, which the publisher required to not leave the theatre so as not to lose any of the proofs for the final printing! It’s opening performance at La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy turned out to be one of the world’s greatest operatic fiasco with what amounted to raucous heckling by the audience to the point of distraction. However, the next production in another locale received a warm reception and from then on it was a smashing success worldwide. The story has many connections to the American/Japanese cultural clash of the post WWII era. The opera is set in Nagasaki with the American Naval officer Pinkerton setting up housekeeping on a local estate with a Japanese household of servants, all rented, and a young 15 year old Geisha, Cio Cio San, whom he calls “Butterfly,” believing she is to marry this officer in all seriousness, while Pinkerton considers it all to be just another conquest of his Naval career.  He plans all along to return to America and marry the love of his life, an American woman. No one told the young Geisha, this was simply for show! Her loyalty to Pinkerton is unwavering even after bearing his child and his 3 year hiatus to the U.S.! Even after the American consul tries to tell her it’s all a sham, she continues her vigil waiting for Pinkerton’s return. He does return with his American wife and realizes what he has done to Butterfly only to bail again leaving the consul and his wife to collect the child and leave Butterfly to commit suicide. Video’s of Mirrela Freni and Luciano Pavarotti’s rendition of the Love duet, plus the famous aria, “Un Bel Di,” sung by Renata Tabaldi, and the Humming Chorus, which are the most commonly recognized portions of the opera were also enjoyed by the members.
Refreshments were served by hostess Chari Miller.
The next meeting will be Jan. 11 at the home of Betty Erikson with Betty Keenan as co-host and the program on Mozart’s The Magic Flute.