Kirill Petrenko with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly”
For her it is true love, for him just an affair: Puccini turned the story of the geisha Cio-Cio-San and an American naval lieutenant into one of the most poignant operas ever – creating music brimming with sophistication and atmosphere. Following the staging of the opera in Baden-Baden, Kirill Petrenko conducts a concert performance of Madama Butterfly in Berlin. The title role is sung by Eleonora Buratto, who has already enjoyed success as Cio-Cio-San at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. The young star tenor Jonathan Tetelman joins her as Pinkerton.
The story is one of poignant tragedy: Pinkerton marries Cio-Cio-San according to Japanese custom and returns to America. Three years pass, during which the geisha not only waits eagerly for her husband, but also gives birth to his child. Finally, Pinkerton does indeed return to Japan, but accompanied by his new American wife. Instead of a happy reunion, he only wants to take his son with him. In utter despair, Cio-Cio-San stabs herself to death.
The historical background to the opera is the campaign by the American fleet in the 19th century, which used force to gain access to Japanese harbours. The political conflict is also reflected in the plot: the behaviour of the culturally arrogant American soldier, who breaks the geisha’s heart for his own pleasure, can be seen as a typical expression of colonialism – even if Pinkerton finally expresses his remorse in the aria “Addio fiorito asil”.
The appeal of Puccini’s score lies in its combination of Italian melodiousness and colourful orchestration with Asian influences, which the composer drew from sources available to him. Highlights include the soprano aria “Un bel dì, vedremo”, and the enchanting atmosphere of the famous Humming Chorus.
Kirill Petrenko previously conducted Puccini’s one-act opera Suor Angelica as part of an education project with the Karajan Academy. Madama Butterfly is the first Italian opera he presents with the Berliner Philharmoniker.
Berliner Philharmoniker
Kirill Petrenko
Eleonora Buratto
Teresa Iervolino
Jonathan Tetelman
Aksel Daveyan
Tassis Christoyannis
© 2025 Berlin Phil Media GmbH
Category
Artists
Our recommendations
- Kirill Petrenko conducts Strauss’s “The Woman without a Shadow”
- Kirill Petrenko conducts Tchaikovsky’s “Queen of Spades”
- Kirill Petrenko with Rachmaninov’s “Francesca da Rimini”
- Kirill Petrenko conducts Tchaikovsky’s “Mazeppa”
- Kirill Petrenko conducts Strauss’s “Elektra” at the Easter Festival in Baden-Baden
- Zubin Mehta conducts “Otello”
