In the second act of Puccini's Madama Butterfly, the eponymous character watches Pinkerton's ship as she makes harbor. There will be a slight reversal of roles on June 22, as it will be Cio-Cio-San who will be on a ship-specifically the ITS Giuseppe Garibladi (C-551)-as she awaits Pinkerton's arrival via helicopter.
The production is only the highlight of the second La Spezia Lirica Forum, which this year focuses on Giacomo Puccini, a hundred years after his death. The event is divided into three parts, the first being a concert lesson on Madama Butterfly with Bruno Nicoli, Director of Stage Music of the Teatro alla Scalla. That was on June 15.
The second part, June 22, sees the opera fully staged aboard the ITS Giuseppe Garibaldi, Italy's first aircraft carrier. The cast will comprise the participants of a masterclass held by baritone Roberto Sèrvile, who will also serve as artistic director. Stefano Giaroli will conduct the Terre Verdiane symphony orchestra and the choir of the Parma Opera. Audience members are advised to wear flat, rubber-soled shoes. Opening this event is a speech by Vito Ventre, bandmaster of the Presidio del Comando Marittimo Nord della Spezia.
The Giuseppe Garibaldi was commissioned in 1985, and was involved in combat air operations off Somalia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Libya. Pierluigi Peracchini, mayor of La Spezia, describes her staging of Madama Butterfly as "not only [celebrating] the genius of Puccini, but also [strengthening] the link between culture and territory, transforming our city into a stage of global artistic excellence." It will mark the first time that an opera is performed aboard a naval ship.
The production is one of the events leading up to her decommissioning on Oct. 1, 2024.
