Customer Reviews

Madame Butterfly

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This recording is unusual in that none of the principals had much prior experience with "Butterfly". Therefore, the performance is not exactly what one is accustomed to hearing, but that in no way diminshes its power and the beauty of the singing.

True, Steber does not come across as a victim. But she is totally engaging nevertheless, and offers the listener a compelling and believable interpretation of the role. Tucker is outstanding as Pinkerton. His "Dovunque al mondo" is more ardent and convincing than most; he truly sounds like a "Yankee vagabondo". The love duet shows the intensity of emotion which both singers bring to the roles, and Steber really hits her stride with "Un bel di".

While this may not be the definitive "Butterfly", it has much to offer, and should not be ignored by anyone who loves this opera. As part of the Sony/Columbia Masterworks Heritage series, it has been remastered in rich, warm mono, with excellent packaging, including good notes and a libretto.

The older I get, the more I appreciate opera singers from the past. Eleanor Steber is one of my favorite sopranos, and, as any one of her fans knows, there are not many recordings of her singing available. Thanks to Sony Classical, the wonderful Heritage series now contains a stunning reissue of this classic 1949 recording with Metropolitan Opera stars of the time. Enough has already been written on these pages about Steber bringing perhaps too much "red-blooded" Americanism to the role, but for me, this recording is a glorious treasure, capturing Steber at the height of her career. Her unfailing diction, intonation and colorful sound are thrilling to hear. Richard Tucker is a great match for Steber (they would work again in a brilliant Cosi in 1952 at the Met) and captures the essence of Pinkerton well.

I agree with the others. This is not the recording to have if you only want one Butterfly. But if you enjoy Steber and have room in your collection for a worthy second or third Butterfly, buy it! P.S. Steber's Cosi is also available on Sony Classical Heritage.

One of the loveliest moments surely has to be listening to a great performance such as this one. Eleanor Steber, in spite of the size of her voice, is in great form in this role which she never sang at the Met or anywhere else. Richard Tucker, as Pinkerton, also never sang this role at the Met. But what a loss! He is truly magnetic as is Steber in their respective role, singing with a passionate involvement seldom seen on stage since. Max Rudolf conducts with absolute knowledge of the score. As a side note, one Penelope Smith who was a girlfriend at the time, stole this album from myself and sold the LP version. This CD set more than made up for all of the pain and suffering this loss put on me so many years ago. Take that Penelope!

This is music at its best, stunning, beautiful, and powerful. Puccini's classic will live forever.

Singing, as recorded here, just does not exist like this anymore. The New York based opera singers of the 40s and 50s are as good as it gets for me and Tucker and Steber, both in their primes in 1949, are among my favorite singers. Sony did a fantastic job with the remastering. I wish they'd remaster more recordings with great singers of the past instead of signing ones like Paul Potts. Time to get back on the right track Sony!