Death of a Butterfly Boxes
12 boxes, Lambda-prints, butterflies, pins, 2013
Geraldine Farrar (1882–1967) was an American soprano opera singer who appeared in the first Metropolitan Opera performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly in 1907.
Rosina Storchio (1876–1945) was an Italian soprano opera singer who appeared in the world premiere of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at La Scalo, Milan in 1904.
Butterfly Box Geraldine Farrar #1
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C., LC-USZ62-40286 | Photograph: A. Dupont, New York, c1908.
Butterfly Box Geraldine Farrar #2
Courtesy of the Bain Collection, Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C., LC-DIG-ggbain-33724. | Photograph: Unknown
Butterfly Box Rosina Storchio #1
Courtesy of Lebrecht Music and Arts Photo Library Photograph: Unknown, Milan, 1904
Butterfly Box Rosina Storchio #2
Courtesy of Lebrecht Music and Arts Photo Library Photograph: Unknown, Milan, 1904
Butterfly Box Zurich Opera House 1937
Madame Butterfly: Teiko Kiwa (1902–1983); F.B. Pinkerton: Peter Baxevanos (1908-1982)
Butterfly Box Zurich Opera House 1945 #1–3
Madame Butterfly: Lisa Della Casa (1919–2012); F.B. Pinkerton: Ernst Fabry (1902–1982)
Butterfly Box Zurich Opera House 1954 #1-2
Madame Butterfly: Marit Isene (1923–2002);
F.B. Pinkerton: Willi Friedrich (?))
Butterfly Box Geraldine Farrar (1882–1967) #3
Courtesy of the Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Washington, D.C., LC-USZ62-55294. / Photograph: A. Dupont, New York, c1908.
Death of a Butterfly exhibition, Galerie Bob Gysin, 2013
In her latest works, Teresa Chen … used Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly as the starting point for the exhibition Death of a Butterfly in order to critically examine how Asian women are represented in European society and history. In Madama Butterfly, Puccini continued the trend of exoticism popular in late 19th century Europe: Madama Butterfly, a young Japanese geisha “marries” an American naval officer stationed in her home country Japan and waits in vain for the officer’s return after his departure. However, when he finally returns to Nagasaki, it is not for her but to take their child with him to America. In despair, Madama Butterfly stabs herself to death. Madama Butterfly is one of the world’s most popular operas and is also regularly staged at the Zurich Opera House, most recently in the 2012/2013 season.
Marion Wild, from the press release for Death of a Butterfly (select “Show Information”)