Song Liling (Kangmin Justin Kim) and René Gallimard (Mark Stone) in M. Butterfly; photo Curtis Brown for the Santa Fe Opera
David Henry Hwang’s M. Butterfly was the first play composer Huang Ruo saw in America after arriving here in 1996 to study at the Oberlin Conservatory of Music. “I went because I knew Puccini’s opera,” he says, “and because I knew there was an Asian actor in it. I remember it was very shocking, and it struck me deeply.”
Twenty-six years later — and after three earlier collaborations — their operatic version of M. Butterfly will become the Santa Fe Opera’s 18th world premiere when it opens on Saturday, July 30.
Its plot is based on a real-life event. In 1986, a French diplomat and his romantic partner, a Chinese Opera singer, were convicted of spying for China. Their trial received international news coverage when it was revealed that for more than 20 years the diplomat had incorrectly believed the singer, who specialized in female roles, was a woman.
Hwang heard about the news reports at a Los Angeles cocktail party and was convinced it contained stage potential. About a year later, he had the “Aha!” moment that provided the entry point to the play. While driving down Santa Monica Boulevard, he asked himself, “What did the diplomat think he was getting with this Chinese actress?”