When young geisha Cio-Cio-San marries the handsome American army lieutenant Pinkerton, she feels herself the luckiest girl alive. She has it all: love, marriage and a beautiful house on top of a hill overlooking the ocean. For Pinkerton she joins church, angering her family, who abandons her. Madama Butterfly, as Pinkerton lovingly calls her, does it all for love. Pinkerton on the other hand, sees her only as a beautiful distraction before he gets married to an American woman: Like the houses in Japan, also marriage is for rent. He leaves her behind and she never loses hope, that he returns. When Pinkerton finally returns, he doesn’t come alone: His wife Kate is with him to pick up the little boy, that Cio-Cio-San has born. Cio-Cio-San’s world lies in shambles.

Ilkka Paloniemi

Events

Upcoming events

4 - 23 Jul, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Savonlinna Opera Festival

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