Lieutenant Pinkerton is in Nagasaki for three months for professional reasons. There he falls in love with the geisha Cio-Cio-San, also called Madame Butterfly. He wants to marry her immediately after and she has a child by him. Japanese law allows him to declare the marriage dissolved at any time. She waits years for the lieutenant to return. When he finally returns, he has a new wife and wants to take his child. Thereupon Butterfly stabs himself.
Image gallery
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
Madama Butterfly
"Madama Butterfly" is based on a novella which is said to be a true story. Since around the middle of the 19th century, when the American fleet forced the opening of Japanese ports, the influence of Japanese culture in the West began to spread. Soon operas and operettas were being performed in Japan. Despite the rapid technological progress, it has preserved its own culture. Giacomo Puccini studied the music of Japan, incorporated original melodies and was inspired to create special timbres and sophisticated instrumentation, making "Japanese Tragedy" one of the most touching operas in history.
Eike Gramss' production shows the meeting of two cultures in a shimmering Japanese world.
2:55 hrs including one interval
Additional information
Participating artists
Giacomo Puccini (Komponist/in)
Giuseppe Giacosa und Luigi Illica (Autor/in)
