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Metropolitan Opera - Madama Butterfly

Metropolitan Opera - Madama Butterfly at Metropolitan Opera House

Why see Metropolitan Opera - Madama Butterfly?

the stunning cLASSIC

Anthony Minghella's breathtakingly beautiful and powerfully dramatic production returns, with the lead role of Cio-Cio San shared by a trio of stunning performers. Widely known as the opera that inspired the Broadway musical Miss Saigon; the tragic story sees a young Japanese bride abandoned by her American husband for a new wife back home.

What is the story?

The title character Madama Butterfly or, Cio-Cio San to her friends - is a young Japanese geisha who naively believes her marital arrangement with a visiting American naval officer is a loving and permanent marriage. One of the most defining and tragic roles in contemporary opera, the story looks behind the Orientalism and casual imperialism to the people affected directly by the actions of Pinkerton and his callous attitude towards his young bride, who he leaves with their child, only to return three years later with a new, American-born wife. Rather than live in shame, Cio-Cio San chooses to die with honor, committing suicide with the very same knife used by her father, but not before shielding her son's eyes first.

One of the most and stirring and tearjerking musical pieces in the opera is the iconic Humming Chorus, which takes place off-stage as Butterfly, her son, and her maid Suzuki start the long vigil through the night as they wait for Pinkerton's ship to dock at Nagasaki.

Key Information

Audience

Sung in Italian with Met Titles in English, German and Spanish

Run Time

Three hours with one intermission

Dates

Finished May 11

Creative

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Reviews

Our review

Flawless, Intense, Delicate

This production does honor to Puccini's masterpiece and to the superb achievement of the artists on stage, but more than that, it tells a timeless tale of love and betrayal, flawlessly. Bravo!

Josephine Knight

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Customer reviews

1 reviews, average rating: (5.0 Stars)

Anonymous

An hour later and I'm still sobbing !

My wife and I have just watched this live from the Met in our VUE cinema in Northumberland, England with Roberto Alagna and Kristine Opolais in the lead roles . It was, without doubt, THE most magnificent and heart-breaking performance I have ever seen ! I fought to control my breathing all through the second act but still the tears ran freely whilst my heart nearly burst ! Kristine deserves every accolade she gets as her portrayal was PERFECT in every way and how a marionette can actually be alive and make people cry was the wonder of the night ! ... Read more
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