“Madame Butterfly” at the Opéra Bastille: Eleonora Buratto dazzles in the role of the sacrificed geisha

More than three decades after its creation, the minimalist and hypnotic staging of Madame Butterfly by Robert Wilson remains timeless. At the Opéra Bastille, the audience was fascinated by the formal elegance of the pared-down sets and the choreographed movements inspired by Noh theatre and Butoh dance. But it was the performance of Italian soprano Eleonora Buratto in the title role that really left its mark. Her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San, the betrayed young geisha, touched the audience with her emotional intensity and remarkable physical performance.

Accompanied by tenor Stefan Pop as Pinkerton, Buratto delivers a nuanced performance, in which her character's blind love clashes with her lover's calculating coldness. Wilson's stylized staging, aided by sophisticated lighting effects and sober costumes, amplifies the tragedy of this woman condemned to abandonment. The contrast between the immaculate aesthetic and the inner violence of the drama makes this revival of Madame Butterfly a powerful theatrical experience.

In addition to the masterful vocal and theatrical performances of Eleonora Buratto and Aude Extrémo, who plays Suzuki, the show benefits from the dynamic musical direction of Speranza Scappucci, who makes the Puccinian orchestration vibrate. Through this captivating version, Madame Butterfly continues to question the relationships of domination between the East and the West, while resonating through its modernity and humanity.

Alice Leroy