‘Madama Butterfly’ Exhibition at the La Scala Museum in Milan
The museum’s presentation of Puccini's famous opera includes original documents from the Archivio Storico Ricordi
The exhibition, which was officially opened on November 11, 2016, spotlights the opera, which has been part of the repertoire of opera houses worldwide ever since its first premiere at Milan’s La Scala on February 17, 1904, and how its production has evolved over time.
It presents documents and elaborately designed original costumes from four historical performances of Madama Butterfly at La Scala, from its premiere in 1904 to the 1985 production.
The Archivio Storico Ricordi is contributing a sheet from Puccini's original score, as well as colorful stage designs by Vittorio Rota and costume drawings prepared by Giuseppe Palanti for the opera’s long-ago world premiere. Libretti, historical photographs, and select items from the correspondence between composer and publisher are also on display.
By contrasting exhibits from different epochs of the 20th century, the exhibition gives an insight into the history of how this masterpiece of Italian opera was produced over time.
Curated by Vittoria Crespi Morbio, it is the second collaboration of this kind between the Archivio Storico Ricordi and the Teatro alla Scala Museum (Turandot was presented in a similar way in 2015). The archive and the museum thus contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the historical legacy of these world-famous operas among La Scala’s international audiences.
The Scala opens its 2017 opera season in December with Madama Butterfly in the original version of 1904.
Madama Butterfly, l’Oriente ritrovato – Foujita e Asari per Puccini
November 12, 2016 - February 28, 2017
Daily 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Tickets: 10 € / Reduced 7 € / Students 3 €
Museo Teatrale alla Scala
Largo Antonio Ghiringhelli, 1
20121 Milan, Italy
