Madama Butterfly

One of the absolute “hits” of the opera repertoire, Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, is well-known to every opera lover; its tragic story has brought tears to millions of eyes in the century since its premiere. Countless creators around the world have staged the work in countless interpretations, as the world has changed greatly, and with it, so has the way the piece is perceived. The time has come for the OPERA’s former, traditional production to be replaced by a new one, whose female-centred perspective adds new layers of meaning. For if we think about it more deeply, everything we see is merely a tiny fragment of the whole, and each piece of the puzzle can only gain meaning together with the others. And what would happen if we were to view this story through the eyes of a boy who happens to be an unplanned child of a young Japanese geisha and an American sailor, observing events from a time that no longer belongs to his passionate, young parents? Born in Prague, trained in vocal art in Switzerland and later in directing in Germany, and maintaining a close working relationship with the also well-known Calixto Bieito, Barbora Horáková offers an innovative interpretation: a dual narrative spanning generations and continents, accompanied by the powerful visual world of Armenian-born American photo and video artist Diana Markosian. Following the spectacular Prokofiev opera War and Peace, this new collaboration between the OPERA and the Grand Théâtre de Genève examines traditions, passions, and their impact across generations. The production arrives in Budapest following its 2026 Swiss premiere.