Madame Butterfly

In the organizer's words:

Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton is an officer in the US Navy and is currently stationed in Nagasaki. For the duration of his stay, he has been given a house and a 15-year-old geisha named Cio-Cio-San. Enchanted by her grace, Pinkerton falls in love with the young woman and enters into a temporary marriage with her according to Japanese custom. But what is true love for Cio-Cio-San is only a fleeting adventure for Pinkerton. He leaves her shortly after the wedding, but "Butterfly", as she is known, is certain that he will return to her one fine day - not least because of their child. Years pass before the US Navy ship actually docks again. On board: Pinkerton and his American wife Kate.

In 1900, Puccini discovered a new opera subject in London with a sure instinct for effective stage material: David Belasco's play Madame Butterfly. A Tragedy of Japan, in which he was particularly interested in the clash of two opposing worlds - the modern Western colonial power USA on the one hand and Japan, which is characterized by centuries-old traditions, on the other. And so the contrast between traditional Western music and stylized Asian sounds became a defining feature of his opera, which was premiered in Milan in 1904. While contemporary audiences were particularly fascinated by the tragic love story set against an exotic backdrop, the opera is extremely topical today, addressing cultural misunderstandings as well as the abuse of power and sexism.

Admission one hour before the start of each performance