Callas in Madama Butterfly

The video shows Maria Callas in rehearsal for her only performances in the title rôle of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, which took place in Chicago in 1955.

(After her third Butterfly, on 17 November, she was served with a summons on behalf of her former associate Eddie Bagarozy, resulting in the infamous photo of her with “her mouth in a hyena-like snarl,” as Michael Scott wrote. It marked a turning point in her public image.)

Following you will find the end of Act I of Madama Butterfly sung by Callas and Nicolai Gedda under the direction of Herbert von Karajan, a recording also from 1955.