Photo courtesy of Tim Fuller Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton gazes into the eyes of his first wife, Butterfly, in the AZ Opera's "Madama Butterfly." The opera runs through Sunday at TCC Music Hall.

Early-20th-century opera, 'Madama Butterfly,' shows in Tucson this weekend

The AZ Opera carries its audience back to early-20th-century Japan in this weekend's performances of Giacomo Puccini's famous opera "Madama Butterfly."

The opera is the tragic story of a man who takes a wife in Japan, then returns to the states and marries another woman. It follows the two lovers and portrays how they deal with the ill-fated situation.

Vanessa Salaz, a University of Arizona vocal performance graduate student, is one of the performers in this weekend's shows. She plays the role of Kate Pinkerton, an American and the second wife of Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton.

Salaz described her character as being innocent and unfortunate in that she marries Pinkerton with no knowledge of his first wife, Butterfly, whom he met and married in Japan.

Pinkerton does not think of his marriage to Butterfly as legal until he takes a second wife in America and attempts to claim his son, who is still in Japan. While Pinkerton is quick to dismiss the legality of his first marriage, Butterfly is not.

"There's a lot of passion between Butterfly and Pinkerton," Salaz said. "She's full of passion for him - emotions run high in the opera."

Salaz said she fell in love with opera when she was first introduced to the musical style.

"I've always wanted to sing," Salaz said. "As soon as I was introduced to the opera, (I knew) that was my niche."

She added she enjoys the theatrical components of opera - especially the way in which opera can affect its audiences emotionally.

"Opera seems to have a special power to emotionally affect the audience," Salaz added. "(Opera's) gorgeous music adds to whatever happens in the story - it drives (the opera) home to the listeners."

Because of Salaz's love for the emotional appeal of the opera, it seems only appropriate that she should perform in one of Puccini's works.

According to the AZ Opera's Web site, www.azopera.com, "Puccini wrote solely for the operatic stage, and he understood the dramatic intensity and melodic poignancy of real life subject matter."

This dramatic intensity is displayed through the complicated love triangle in "Madama Butterfly."

Salaz said, "Madama Butterfly" is a show for everyone, including college students who may not have previous experience with the operatic tradition.

"This is an especially great (show) for people who haven't been exposed to much opera before, because the music is gorgeous and it's very dramatic," Salaz said. "It's very grand."

UA professor of music Charles Roe agreed the opera is highly dramatic.

"Madama Butterfly' is a real 'tear-jerker,'" he said.

He added this particular opera is appropriate for student viewing in that it is both famous and emotionally inspiring.

"It is one of the most famous and frequently performed operas of all time," Roe said. "It contains beautiful music and is very moving, emotionally."

"Madama Butterfly" runs today and tomorrow at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. in the TCC Music Hall, 260 S. Church Ave. Ticket prices vary with student discounts available. For more information, call 293-4336.