The relationship between Cio-Cio-San, called »Butterfly«, and US American marine officer Benjamin F. Pinkerton begins as a proforma wedding – with unexpected consequences: the young Japanese woman cuts herself off from her family, hoping to leave her impoverished origins behind; Pinkerton, on the other hand, despite his overwhelming desires, doesn’t feel committed to this »provisional marriage«. When he’s ordered home Cio-Cio-San’s left behind, expecting his baby. She waits unwaveringly for his return; her only rock is her faithful servant Suzuki. But when Pinkerton’s ship re-docks in Nagasaki, the illusion shatters: He married another woman in America. When Butterfly realises they intend to take her child as well, she sees no other way out; she commits ritual suicide, as her father before her. Doing away with superficial clichés, the director R.B. Schlather focuses on the human tragedy, for which Puccini, Master of Melody found such heart-rending music.

EPSG:4326

Madama Butterfly

Oper Frankfurt

In 1853, the US battle fleet forced Japan to open its ports and enter into business with America. “The vigorous pressing of America’s handshake given kindly, but offered with zeal and capable of both striking and embracing at the same time – rocked the isolation of the Japanese and made them sensitive for their relationship towards the rest of the world“, according to the recollection of Captain M. C. Perry, then commander of the fleet. Puccini himself never visited Japan, but with his “Japanese tragedy“ about the geisha Cio-Cio-San and her love for American Naval officer Pinkerton, he created an affecting testimony for any form of one-sided cultural transfer. By choosing the “American way of life“ Cio-Cio-San accepts a cut-off from her past and her cultural traditions, but is left behind, pregnant and full of hope for the future which is finally cruelly dashed.

Stuttgart Opera

A revival of the Festival 2009 production

Falstaff

Glyndebourne

Falstaff bites off more than he can chew when he messes with the merry wives of Windsor. Set in 1940s post-war England, this Shakespeare-meets-Ealing-comedy production combines humour with music that bursts with energy.

Those who fail are brutally beheaded. But when an unknown prince arrives, the balance of power in Turandot’s court is forever shaken, as the mysterious stranger does what no other has been able to.

The Royal Opera: Turandot – Cert TBC

Lighthouse, Poole's Centre for the Arts

Featuring the ever-popular ‘Nessun dorma’, this opera of love and revenge is brought to life in a dazzling production.

Turandot

Royal Opera House

At the 12th Opera Gala in Bonn, international stars from the world’s biggest stages perform together on a single evening. They will delight audiences with a varied musical program at the highest level – accompanied by the Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and the Bonn Theatre Opera Chorus. All the artists performing waive their fees for a good cause.

Opengala

Theater Bonn Opera House

At the turn of the year, Theater Bonn takes opera audiences to the land where the lemons bloom! In a colorful, varied program, guests and ensemble as well as the chorus and extra chorus of Theater Bonn present a glittering opera gala that combines the best of the rich tradition of bel canto and dramatic opera. Experience unforgettable arias, duets and ensembles from masterpieces by VINCENZO BELLINI, GIOACHINO ROSSINI, GAETANO DONIZETTI, GIACOMO PUCCINI, PIETRO MASCAGNI, GIUSEPPE VERDI - and a few surprises! The top soloists will bring the great emotions, passionate melodies and gripping stories of these works to life with impressive virtuosity and deep expression. An evening that will make the hearts of all opera lovers beat faster. No one will sleep!

Nobody sleeps!

Verdi’s final work is commonly perceived as a joyful comedy about a fat boozer who cynically seduces two women and gets severely punished for it. Only once you read into the Shakespearian original and carefully analyse the extraordinary richness of the opera’s musical motifs, you get to the bottom of the mysterious work, consciously written by the aged composer as a farewell to his momentous oeuvre, impressive life, and the mortal world, which he ironically summed up as the Creator’s painful joke played on humans and their endeavours.

Anna Princeva

Events

Upcoming events

Nov 27 - Dec 27, 2026

Falstaff · Polish National Opera

Past events

Feb 6 - Mar 20, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Oper Frankfurt

Dec 14, 2025 - Jan 24, 2026

Madama Butterfly · Staatsoper Stuttgart

Future and recently performed repertoire

Alice Ford in Falstaff by Verdi

London Philharmonic Orchestra

Cio-Cio San in Madama Butterfly by Puccini

Staatsoper Stuttgart

Cio-Cio-San in Madama Butterfly by Puccini

Oper Frankfurt

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