Madama Butterfly

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Premiered February 17, 1904, La Scala, Milan, Italy

Madama Butterfly makes its highly anticipated return to Opera Colorado, bringing Puccini’s emotionally charged masterpiece to the stage. This iconic opera follows Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese geisha whose strength and unwavering hope carry her through betrayal, loss, and the struggle to survive in the face of devastating choices.

With its lush, soaring melodies and striking themes of honor and survival, Madama Butterfly remains one of opera’s most moving works. Get the long and short of the plot and learn about the characters in our blog post.

May 2, 5, 7, 8, 10 | 2026

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Performing Arts Complex
Performed in Italian, with English and Spanish captions at every seat.

Estimated Length: 2 hours 55 minutes

There will be a twenty-minute intermission after act one and a brief pause between acts two and three.

*Join us one hour prior to each performance at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House for a free and insightful pre-performance lecture in the Studio Loft.

Cast

Madama Butterfly/Cio-Cio-San: Eri Nakamura
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton: Joseph Dennis
Suzuki: Kristen Choi
Sharpless: Levi Hernandez
Goro: Martin Bakari
The Bonze: Young Bok Kim
Prince Yamadori: Mason O’Brien
The Imperial Commissioner: Kevin Spooner
Kate Pinkerton: Jordan McCready
Yakusidé: Michele Di Nuovo
Cousin: Kayla Kramer
Aunt: Bella Mallow
Mother: Claire LeBorgne
Sorrow: Siha Park/Kohei Umetani

Creative Team

Conductor: Ari Pelto
Chorus Director: Sahar Nouri
Stage Director: Mo Zhou
Cultural Consultant: Asuka Morinaga Derfler
Scenic Designer: John Gunter
Lighting Designer: Marie Yokoyama
Costume Designer: Anita Yavich
Répétiteur: Lindsay Woodward
Wig & Makeup Designer: Ronell Oliveri