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2026

January

Sat
03 Jan 2026

Tue
06 Jan 2026

Thu
08 Jan 2026

Sat
10 Jan 2026

Tue
13 Jan 2026

Fri
16 Jan 2026

Thu
22 Jan 2026

Sat
24 Jan 2026

Thu
29 Jan 2026

Sat
31 Jan 2026

February

Wed
04 Feb 2026

Sat
07 Feb 2026

Wed
11 Feb 2026

Sat
14 Feb 2026

Fri
20 Feb 2026

Wed
25 Feb 2026

March

Sun
01 Mar 2026

Tue
03 Mar 2026

Sat
07 Mar 2026

Wed
11 Mar 2026

Sat
14 Mar 2026

Wed
18 Mar 2026

Fri
20 Mar 2026

Wed
25 Mar 2026
Venue

Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House
Bennelong Point, Sydney

Language

Performed in Italian with English surtitles.

Running time

Approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one interval.

Please note

This production contains adult themes.

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Fire. Water. Beauty. Darkness. When love is lost, what is left behind?

Cio-Cio-San is a woman who dreams of a bigger life. Pinkerton is a man who sees only a butterfly, something he can capture and keep. His callous pursuit ripples into sweeping tragedy.

Puccini’s eternally popular Madama Butterfly is a profoundly moving experience. The yearning score soars to incredible heights (Cio-Cio-San’s dazzling ‘Un bel di’) and offers moments of exquisite stillness (the ‘Humming Chorus’).

Moffatt Oxenbould’s award-winning production is timeless. Tiny candles glimmer among floating flowers in a real onstage moat. Sliding paper panels reveal and conceal the secrets everyone is keeping. Sumptuous, colourful costumes are inspired by Japanese traditional dress. It’s a serene, stunning backdrop for the unfolding emotional turmoil.

“A beautiful and moving experience ★★★★” – Sydney Morning Herald

Extraordinary singers draw every ounce of emotion out of the passionate score, led by conductors Andrea Battistoni, Erina Yashima and Paul Fitzsimon. Four emerging international stars make their Australian debuts. Sopranos Guanqun Yu and Vittoria Yeo have performed all over Europe and America and now share the role of Cio-Cio-San at the Sydney Opera House along with Australian star Olivia Cranwell. La Scala-trained tenor Oreste Cosimo and versatile young American tenor Robert Watson sing the role of Pinkerton.

This is a must-see production of a must-see opera (back by popular demand) featuring must-see singers — a bucket list performance you’ll remember forever.

“Superb from beginning to end in every respect ★★★★”

Bachtrack

“A production that deserves to be seen again and again.”

AussieTheatre.com

“A beautiful and moving experience ★★★★”

Sydney Morning Herald

Cast & Creative

Conductor
Andrea Battistoni (3-24 Jan & 7-14 Mar)
Paul Fitzsimon (29 Jan-4 Feb & 18-25 Mar)
Erina Yashima (7 Feb–3 Mar)
Director
Set & Costume Designers
Lighting Designer
Movement & Revival Director
Cio-Cio-San
Guanqun Yu (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Vittoria Yeo (7 Feb–7 Mar)
Olivia Cranwell (11–25 Mar)
Suzuki
Sian Sharp (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Angela Hogan (7 Feb–25 Mar)
Pinkerton
Robert Watson (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Oreste Cosimo (7 Feb–25 Mar)
Sharpless
Samuel Dundas (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Luke Gabbedy (7 Feb–7 Mar)
Warwick Fyfe (11–25 Mar)
Goro
Virgilio Marino (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Michael Petruccelli (7 Feb–25 Mar)
Bonze
David Parkin (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Gennadi Dubinsky (7 Feb–25 Mar)
Kate Pinkerton
Jane Ede (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Chelsea Burns (7 Feb–25 Mar)
Yamadori
Leon Vitogiannis (3 Jan–4 Feb)
Alexander Hargreaves (7 Feb–25 Mar)

Opera Australia Orchestra
Opera Australia Chorus

Madama Butterfly on New Year's Eve

Cheat Sheet: Madama Butterfly

Here’s everything you need to know…

What happens in the story? Who was the composer? What should I expect from the music?

Read the cheat sheet

Synopsis

ACT I

B.F. Pinkerton arrives in Japan and inspects a house overlooking the harbour that he is leasing from the marriage broker, Goro. The house comes with three servants and a geisha wife named Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. The American consul Sharpless arrives. Pinkerton describes his life of roaming the world in search of experience and pleasure. He intends to go through with the marriage ceremony even though he says that someday he will take a real, American wife. Butterfly views the marriage differently. She is heard climbing the hill with her friends for the ceremony.

After the formal introduction, Butterfly explains that her family was once prominent but lost its position, and she has had to earn her living as a geisha. Her relatives arrive. Cio-Cio-San shows Pinkerton her few possessions, and tells him she will embrace her husband’s religion. The Imperial Commissioner reads the marriage agreement, and the relatives congratulate the couple. Suddenly, a threatening voice is heard — it is The Bonze, Butterfly’s uncle, a priest. He curses the girl for converting to Christianity, Pinkerton orders them to leave and as they go, The Bonze and the shocked relatives reject Cio-Cio-San. She is helped by Suzuki into her wedding kimono, and joins Pinkerton in the garden.

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