AboutMike Leone Expertise I have a special affinity for Italian opera, but I also have a lot of experience with French and German opera. I know somewhat less about opera from countries other than these, although there are some exceptions. My main area of interest is the period 1775-1925, although there are a few baroque and modern works that I love.
Experience I've been listening to opera since 1963 and have amassed a large collection of recorded opera during those years. My interest here spans the entire history of recorded opera, going back to its very earliest days.
Publications I have published a couple of lengthy reviews and a tribute to Mario del Monaco in Immortal Performances, have had some letters appear in Fanfare and have several reviews on amazon.com.
Education/Credentials B.A., University of Maryland 1973, M.A., University of Texas 1975, J.D., University of Houston 1998 (none of these degrees are in music).
Question We've just seen Puccini's "Gianni Schicchi" and thought that "O mio babbino caro" sounded remarkably similar to an aria in "Butterfly." Did we have too much wine with dinner, or is there in fact a very similar melody in "Butterfly"?
Answer Hi Angel--
I can't specifically think of an aria in Butterfly that sounds like "O mio babbino caro." There may be a certain generic sameness between "O mio babbino caro" and "Un bel di" since they are both by the same composer, although neither has ever reminded me of the other. I don't recall ever seeing a comment in print that the Gianni Schicchi aria was reminiscent of any other Puccini aria. Then again, at the premiere of Butterfly, which was a disaster, people shouted during the performance that Puccini had reused music from Boheme, something else I've never heard. So I wouldn't necessarily say that you had too much wine with dinner.
My best suggestion is to listen to Butterfly and see if you cand find the melody that the Schicchi aria reminded you of. Butterfly only has two arias and the other is her farewell to her child just before she kills herself, which is almost certainly not it...
