Mothers Of Intervention: The Operatic Moms Puzzler
Madama Butterfly is one of many unhappy moms in opera. Patrick Riviere/Getty Images hide caption
Madama Butterfly is one of many unhappy moms in opera.
Patrick Riviere/Getty ImagesIt's not easy being a mom, but it's even tougher for mothers in opera. So often they're completely absent while fathers have leading roles in shows like Rigoletto, La traviata, The Flying Dutchman. When depicted at all, operatic moms are usually under supreme stress. They can be murderous, manipulative or simply mad. Only rarely are they the loving moms who brought us into the world. Here your job is to identify the operas and their mothers. Score high and brag to your own sweet (or stressed) mom. Score low and go to your room without supper.