Madama Butterfly

Presented by the Royal Opera House. Antonio Pappano conducts an impressive cast led by Ermonela Jaho in Puccini’s deeply poignant opera.

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the most popular of all operas, with ravishing music and a heartbreaking story of a loving geisha deserted by a callous American husband. Much-loved soprano Ermonela Jaho sings the title role for the first time at Covent Garden, in Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s stunningly beautiful production.

The exotic imagery of the Nagasaki setting is drawn from 19th-century Western artists’ romanticized views of Japan. Puccini’s music brings alive the birdsong of the morning, the ritual of a wedding and the seduction by naval officer B.F. Pinkerton (sung by exciting young tenor Marcelo Puente) of his young, innocent bride. Well known moments include the impassioned aria ‘Un bel dì’ (One fine day) as the abandoned Cio-Cio-San clings vainly to her dreams.

Royal Opera Music Director Antonio Pappano, acclaimed for his interpretations of Italian opera, conducts this intense and gripping journey from light and excitement to darkness and self-sacrifice.

CREATIVE TEAM

Music | Giacomo Puccini
Conductor | Antonio Pappano
Directors | Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier

ARTISTIC TEAM

Cio-Cio-San | Ermonela Jaho
B.F. Pinkerton | Marcelo Puente
Sharpless | Scott Hendricks
Suzuki | Elizabeth Deshong

State-of-the-art high definition presentations of current spectacular opera productions at the Coolidge, fresh from the stages of the world’s most renowned opera houses, including Italy’s La Scala and Austria’s Salzburg Festival.