Puccini
Madame Butterfly
New Production
Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
Performed in Italian with English supertitles
Is it true love or just a fantasy? The achingly beautiful score and heartbreaking tragedy at the core of Puccini’s masterpiece explode in a new production by designer Yuki Izumihara and director Ethan Heard that transcends stereotypes, empowering the young protagonist Cio Cio San with new agency over her story.
Soprano Karen Chia-ling Ho and tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro make their company debuts as the lovelorn geisha and her reckless American husband, Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton, who sees her as a toy he can purchase, play with, and abandon. Anthony Clark Evans (Rigoletto, 2022), returns as the cautionary American consul Sharpless, with mezzo Kristen Choi (The Raven, 2022) as the steadfast maid Suzuki.
MapThe Academy of Music
| Fri, Apr 26 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sun, Apr 28 | 2:00 p.m. |
| Fri, May 3 | 8:00 p.m. |
| Sun, May 5 | 2:00 p.m. |
Approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes including one 20-minute intermission.
Limited box seats are available for Opera Philadelphia Patron Program members. Email membership@operaphila.org or call 215.893.5908 to learn more.
Opera Philadelphia's 2023-2024 Season is brought to you by the Artistry Now Matching Fund and Barbara Augusta Teichert.
Maestro Corrado Rovaris' engagement as the Jack Mulroney Music Director has been made possible by Mrs. John P. Mulroney.
Support for this production of Madame Butterfly has been provided by Ellen Steiner.
Cast & Creative Team
- Connie Yun * Lighting Design
- Anita Yavich * Costume Designer
- Amanda Clark Hair & Makeup Design
- Jacinta Yelland * Associate Puppet Movement Director & Performer
- Nico Krell * Assistant Director
- Elizabeth Braden Chorus Master
- Jennifer Shaw Stage Manager
- Hunter Smith Assistant Stage Manager
- Brianna Thompson Assistant Stage Manager
- *Opera Philadelphia debut
The Composer
Giacomo Puccini
Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, born on December 22, 1858, started the operatic trend toward realism with his popular works, which are among the most often performed in opera history. But the fame and fortune that came with such successes as La bohème, Madame Butterfly and Tosca were complicated by an often-troubled personal life. Read more>>