“Pinkerton fetishizes the fifteen-year-old Cio Cio San as a delicate object – something to be purchased, enjoyed, and disposed of,” said Heard, the hapa, Chinese American, co-founder of Heartbeat Opera and Associate Artistic Director of Signature Theatre. “We will see her as a doll puppeteered by our soprano, who we are calling the Spirit of Cio Cio San. While the Spirit initially wants to fulfill Pinkerton’s fantasy, she eventually awakens to the damaging role she is being asked to play.” Scenic and projection design illustrate the need for this metamorphosis in representation, stripping away traditional opulence and ornamentation.

Winner of the prestigious Renee Fleming Award from the Eastman School of Music, Taiwanese soprano Karen Chia-ling Ho makes her Opera Philadelphia debut as the spirit of Cio Cio San. Before earning raves for performances at San Francisco Opera and Carnegie Hall, she began her musical career at the age of 6 singing in the Taipei Hua-Hsin Children's Choir of Taiwan. The physical manifestation of Cio Cio San is brought to the stage by Philadelphia-based puppet artist Hua Hua Zhang, who was born in Beijing, China, earned an MFA in Puppet Art in the School of Fine Arts at the University of Connecticut, and is the founder and artistic director of Visual Expressions.

Called “a firm, fresh lyric tenor, full of promise” by Opera News, Anthony Ciaramitaro makes his company debut as Lt. Pinkerton. Anthony Clark Evans, who impressed in the title role of 2021’s Rigoletto, returns as American consul Sharpless, with mezzo Kristen Choi (2021's The Raven) as Cio Cio San’s maid, Suzuki. Making their company debuts are tenor Martin Bakari as Goro, the marriage broker, and baritone Kyle Miller as Yamadori. Jack Mulroney Music Director Corrado Rovaris conducts, with Elizabeth Braden leading the Opera Philadelphia Chorus. Lighting is designed by Connie Yun, with Nico Krell as assistant director.

Madame Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini; libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
April 26, 28, May 3, 5, 2024
Academy of Music
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including one 20-minute intermission.
Tickets on sale at operaphila.org

Opera Philadelphia invites audiences to dive deeper into the history of Madame Butterfly and this new production with a series of conversations with artists, scholars, and community members. “Butterfly Conversations” take place monthly through May at the Philadelphia Ethical Society, 1906 Rittenhouse Square.  Past events are available online at youtube.com/operaphila.

Butterfly Conversations: Conversation with Creators and Artists
Saturday, April 20, 2024
6:00-7:00 p.m.

Modern productions and interpretations of Madame Butterfly often aim to challenge or subvert the Orientalist and exoticist elements. Directors strive to humanize characters, avoid reinforcing stereotypes, and delve into the complexities of cross-cultural relationships while still maintaining Puccini’s masterwork. In this roundtable conversation, hear from the artists and creative team about Opera Philadelphia's new production of Madame Butterfly.  

Panel: Yuki Izumihara (Production Designer), Karen Chia-ling Ho (Cio Cio San), Kristen Choi (Suzuki), and Ethan Heard (Director).

Butterfly Conversations: Is re-imagining possible? A community conversation
Saturday, May 4, 2024
2:00—3:00 p.m.

As opera companies strive to maintain relevance in the modern world, many consider reimagining historical operas to better resonate with contemporary audiences. In this community conversation, we invite panelists and audience members to explore what is gained and what it costs to re-imagine works such as Madame Butterfly.

Facilitator: Daniel Park, Philadelphia Asian Performing Artists representative on Opera Philadelphia’s Community Advisory Council.

Panel: composer Melissa Dunphy, playwright A.Z. Espinoza, playwright James Ijames.