The State Opera stages the equally famous and tragic story of Lieutenant Pinkerton and the geisha Cio-Cio-San, which was made into a musical masterpiece by Giacomo Puccini with sophisticated instrumentation.

Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola
Madama Butterfly – Gianmarco Bresadola
© Gianmarco Bresadola

Lieutenant Pinkerton has fallen in love with the geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly, and wants to marry her according to Japanese custom without entering into a permanent relationship. But Butterfly truly loves Pinkerton and has a child by him. For years she waits in vain for the lieutenant to return. When Pinkerton does return, he arrives with his new American wife to pick up the child, and Butterfly stabs herself with a dagger.

»Madame Butterfly« is based on a novella that is allegedly a true story. When American fleets forced the opening of Japanese ports in around the mid-19th century, Japanese culture started to influence the West, not just vice versa. Soon operas and operettas were set in this new-found country, which, despite its rapid technological progress, promised a very different modernity through the preservation of its own culture.

Giacomo Puccini incorporated the exoticism of Japan’s setting and its music far more than through mere colonialist appropriation. He studied sources of Japanese music, integrated original songs into his score and was inspired to write sophisticated instrumentation and distinctive timbres. These combine to make his »Japanese tragedy« one of the most touching operas in history. Eike Gramss’ production deals sensitively with this clash between two cultures in a scintillating Japanese setting.

2:55 hrs including one interval

Artists/Collaborators: Giacomo Puccini (Komponist/in), Giuseppe Giacosa und Luigi Illica (Autor/in)

Runtime: Wed, 22/04/2026 to Thu, 30/04/2026

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