Met Opera in HD: Madama Butterfly
Kristine Opolais takes on the title role and Roberto Alagna sings Pinkerton, the naval officer who breaks Butterfly’s heart.
Giacomo Puccini
PART OF THE MET OPERA LIVE IN HD SERIES
No opera is performed more often in North America than Puccini’s cross-cultural tragedy, Madama Butterfly. It is a tale of devotion and irresponsibility and misunderstandings willful and innocent. Critics have called Madama Butterfly compassionate and brutal, colonialist and anti-imperialist, disdainful of Americans and demeaning of Japanese. But audiences are enraptured by the humanity of Cio-Cio-San’s love—and by Puccini’s music, which is at once lush, evocative, and witty.
Anthony Minghella’s breathtaking production has thrilled audiences ever since its premiere in 2006. One of the world’s foremost Butterflys, soprano Kristine Opolais, takes on the title role, and Roberto Alagna sings Pinkerton, the naval officer who breaks Butterfly’s heart. Karel Mark Chichon conducts.
