Madama Butterfly

Nagasaki, Japan, ca. 1900: Pinkerton, a lieutenant in the American navy, has fallen in love with Cio-Cio-San, also known as “Butterfly”. The Japanese ritual marriage ceremony is merely a farce to him – and shortly thereafter, Pinkerton’s “plaything” is alone again, with their child. Three years later, he returns to Japan, but not because of Butterfly. Together with his new wife, he intends to pick up the child and take it to American with him. Butterfly commits suicide. The opera’s... Read full text

Keywords: Opera