madame butterfly

July 22, 27 & 29, 2023 | 7:30 pm
Music Hall • Springer auditorium

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Sung in Italian with projected English translations

A FINAL FANTASY.

Cincinnati Opera presents Puccini’s heartrending tragedy Madame Butterfly from a bold new point of view. In this groundbreaking new production created by an all-Japanese and Japanese American creative team, Butterfly’s story is transported to a fantastical modern-day realm where reality and dreams intersect. Enter the world of naval officer B.F. Pinkerton, who treats Japan as his playground. He’s taken a nearly thousand-year lease on a house and will marry a young girl named Cio-Cio-San, known as Madame Butterfly. But is it merely a fantasy? For Butterfly, vows are not to be taken lightly. As Pinkerton’s intentions are revealed, Butterfly’s dreams become a tragedy of limitless depths with no going back.

july 27 parking and traffic

With TQL Stadium situated just behind Music Hall, we are planning for occasions when FC Cincinnati and Cincinnati Opera events at Music Hall overlap. This season our performance of Madame Butterfly on Thursday July 27, 2023 coincides with an FC Cincinnati match. Click below for information and resources to minimize disruption.

NEWS & REVIEWS

The New York Times: “Reimagining Madame Butterfly, with Asian creators at the helm” [Read the story]

Cincinnati Business Courier: “An excellent cast of singing actors, an inventive set design and the lush sound of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra led by Keitaro Harada made this an evening to remember.” [Read the review]

Opera News: “Cincinnati Opera closed its season with a revelatory new production of Madama Butterfly … This powerful, thought-provoking production certainly deserves wide exposure.” [Read the review] (Subscription required)

Cincinnati Business Courier: “Cincinnati Opera’s 2023 season hits a high note for women leaders” [Read the story]

Cincinnati Magazine: “Madame Butterfly takes off on a new flight” [Read the story]

PHOTO GALLERY

Cast & Creative Team

Cio-Cio-San – Karah Son
B.F. Pinkerton – Adam Smith
Suzuki – Nozomi Kato
Sharpless – Nmon Ford
Goro – Julius Ahn
Prince Yamadori – Jacob Zhou
The Bonze – Peixin Chen
Imperial Commissioner – Randell McGee
Kate Pinkerton – Kayleigh Decker
Trouble – Jet Sebastian
Conductor – Keitaro Harada
Stage Director – Matthew Ozawa
Scenic Designer – dots
Costume Designer – Maiko Matsushima
Lighting Designer – Yuki Nakase Link
Wig Master – James Geier
Chorus Master – Henri Venanzi

Featuring the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Cincinnati Opera Chorus

A co-production of Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, and Utah Opera

TAKE A LISTEN

SET RENDERINGS by dots

take a 3d tour of the set under construction

COSTUME RENDERINGS by Maiko Matsushima

DISCOVER MORE

Opera Insights
Enhance your Madame Butterfly knowledge with a pre-curtain lecture one hour before each performance in Music Hall's Corbett Tower. Evans Mirageas, The Harry T. Wilks Artistic Director, provides overviews and insights into the opera's history, music, and production. Free to all ticket holders. No reservations required.

as seen on tv

Meet the Composer

The creation of this production was made possible in part by the generous donation of Lead Sponsors Sheila and Christopher Cole.

“Madame Butterfly” Illustration: © Daria Petrilli - Licensee Chiara Roilo, and Aimee Sposito Martini