Opera Philadelphia

Puccini

Madame Butterfly

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.

Opera Philadelphia has partnered with Art-Reach and Nicole Sardella to provide Audio Description for this production on May 5. Learn more>>

Watch Play

Madame Butterfly video

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

Corrado Rovaris
Corrado RovarisConductor Underwritten by Mrs. John P. Mulroney
Ethan Heard
Ethan Heard *Director
Yuki Izumihara
Yuki Izumihara *Production Design Underwritten by Ms. Deena Gu Laties
Karen Chia-ling Ho
Karen Chia-ling Ho *Cio Cio San
Anthony Ciaramitaro
Anthony Ciaramitaro *Lt. Pinkerton Underwritten by Judith Durkin Freyer and Charles C. Freyer
Anthony Clark Evans
Anthony Clark EvansSharpless Underwritten by Carolyn Horn Seidle
Kristen Choi
Kristen ChoiSuzuki
Martin Bakari
Martin Bakari *Goro
Kyle Miller
Kyle Miller *Yamadori Underwritten by VIVACE Members
Suchan Kim
Suchan Kim *The Bonze
Hua Hua Zhang
Hua Hua Zhang *Puppet Artist
Anne Marie Stanley
Anne Marie Stanley *Kate Pinkerton Underwritten by Karen A. Zurlo Ph. D.
Sang B. Cho
Sang B. Cho *The Registrar
André Chiang
André Chiang *The Imperial Commissioner
Jayden Wu
Jayden Wu *Trouble
Joanna Gates
Joanna GatesThe Aunt
Lauren Cook
Lauren CookThe Cousin
Evelyn Santiago Schulz
Evelyn Santiago SchulzThe Mother
George Ross Somerville
George Ross SomervilleYakuside
  • 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
Giacomo Puccini

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 bohèmeMadame Butterfly and Tosca were complicated by an often-troubled personal life. Read more>>

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