Madama Butterfly Reduced Orchestration
Madama Butterfly
Giacomo Puccini
Reduced Orchestration: 1(picc)1(ca)11 1100 11111 harp timp(perc)
Flute/Piccolo, Oboe/Cor Anglais, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Timpani/Percussion.
This orchestral reduction of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is aimed for performance using thirteen players. The number of string players can be increased and two sets of slightly differing string parts are available – the first set for use with ‘single strings’, the second set for performances using ‘multiple strings’.
The viola d’amore part (humming chorus at end of Act II) is incorporated as an ‘option’ into the viola part. A ‘one-player’ Timpani/Percussion part comes with this arrangement. Percussion instruments required include Side Drum, Triangle, Cymbals, Tam-Tam, Bass Drum, Glockenspiel, Japanese Bells and Tubular Bells (for more details please enquire).
This reduction was created during 2013/2014 and received its first performances by Opera Project at The Tobacco Factory Theatre in October 2014. It has recently received both ‘single strings’ and ‘multiple strings’ performances in France, Italy, the UK and across the USA, and was performed by Eternity Opera, New Zealand in 2018.
Staging such an exotically imagined story on a small scale in the round focuses attention on the quality of musicality brought to the piece by Jonathan Lyness’s new arrangement”
The orchestra under Jonathan Lyness was in perfect balance with venue, setting and cast”
A reduced, yet still magnificent, orchestral score arranged for a thirteen-piece ensemble and conducted by Jonathan Lyness”
Admirably scored by conductor Jonathan Lyness and his excellent orchestra”
It was remarkable to have the ‘Puccini sound’ with so few players”
For more information or to hire this Madama Butterfly reduced orchestration, please contact us