Giacomo Puccini
“MADAMA BUTTERFLY”
13 March 2026 / 7:30 PM
Conductor: Myron Michailidis – Greece
Assistant Conductor: Katerina Stojkovska
Director: Aleksandar Tekeliev (Bulgaria)
Assistant Directors: Trajko Jordanovski, Ljupka Jakimovska
Set Designer: Zhivojin Trajanovikj
Costume Designer: Lira Grabul
Concertmaster:
Assistant Chorus Masters: Jasmina Gjorgjeska, Gjurgjica Dashikj
Repetiteurs: Elena Siljanoska, Janinka Nevcheva, Andreja Naunov, Anastasija Grgovska
Stage Managers: Dragan Kostadinovich, Marko Pavlevski, Katerina Boshkovska
Prompter: Nevena Georgieva
Cast:
Cio-Cio-San – Sandra Mitrovska / Elena Golomeova
Pinkerton – Zoran Sotirov
Sharpless – Pedro Carrillo
Suzuki – Marika Popovikj
Goro – Ismet Vejseli
Bonzo – Neven Siljanovski
Yamadori – Igor Ginovski
Kate Pinkerton – Sonja Pendovska Madevska
Cio-Cio-San’s Mother – Valentina Dimitrievska
Cio-Cio-San’s Son –
The Commissioner – Marko Dimovski
Officer – Marko Gapo
Servants – Darko Stanojlovski, Borko Bidzovski
Sailors – Filip Mirchevski, Nikola Chedomirovski
Samurai – Shinasi Ramdan, Vasko Zdravkov
Yakusidé –
Chorus and Orchestra of the National Opera and Ballet
Synopsis
ACT I
Nagasaki, Japan, at the end of the nineteenth century. On a flower-filled terrace above the harbor of Nagasaki, the American naval Captain Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton inspects the house he has rented from the marriage broker Goro, who has also provided him with a wife—the geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly.
To the American consul Sharpless, Pinkerton explains the philosophy of a sailor who sails the world in search of pleasure. At the moment he is enchanted by the delicate Cio-Cio-San, who is heard in the distance joyfully singing about her wedding. Entering surrounded by her friends, she tells Pinkerton how, when her family fell on hard times, she had to earn a living as a geisha.
Her relatives rush in, noisily expressing their opinions about the marriage. Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom the family relics and tells him of her intention to adopt his Christian faith. The Imperial Commissioner performs the wedding ceremony, and the guests toast the couple.
The celebration is interrupted by Cio-Cio-San’s uncle, Bonzo, a Buddhist priest, who curses the girl for renouncing the religion of her ancestors. Pinkerton angrily drives the guests away. Alone with Cio-Cio-San in the moonlit garden, he wipes away her tears, and she joins him in singing of their love.
ACT II
Three years later, Cio-Cio-San awaits her husband’s return. She stands at the door, her gaze fixed on the harbor. Suzuki complains that they have very little money left, but Cio-Cio-San remains hopeful that one day Pinkerton’s ship will appear on the horizon.
Sharpless brings a letter from the officer, but before he can read it to Cio-Cio-San, Goro arrives with a suitor for her hand—the wealthy Prince Yamadori. Cio-Cio-San rejects both the marriage broker and the prince, insisting that her husband has not abandoned her.
When they are alone, Sharpless reads the letter and tells her that Pinkerton may not return. Cio-Cio-San shows him her child, Dolore, saying that when Pinkerton learns he has a son, he will surely come back. If he does not return, she would rather die than go back to her former life.
Moved by her devotion, Sharpless leaves without revealing the entire contents of the letter. In a moment of despair, Cio-Cio-San hears a cannon shot. Seizing a telescope, she discovers that Pinkerton’s ship is entering the harbor. As night falls, Cio-Cio-San, Suzuki, and the child begin their vigil.
ACT III
At dawn, Suzuki urges Cio-Cio-San to rest. Singing a lullaby to her child, she carries him into the next room. Shortly afterward, Sharpless enters with Pinkerton, followed by Kate, his new wife. When Suzuki realizes who the American woman is, she agrees to help convey the news to her mistress.
Overcome with guilt, Pinkerton tenderly bids farewell to the place of his former happiness and quickly leaves. When Cio-Cio-San appears expecting to find him, she finds Kate instead.
Heartbroken, Cio-Cio-San agrees to give up her child, provided that his father comes to take him. She then takes the sword with which her father committed suicide and bows before the statue of Buddha, choosing to die with honor rather than live in shame.
As she raises the blade, Suzuki pushes the child into the room. With tearful farewell, Cio-Cio-San sends him out into the garden to play and then stabs herself. As she dies, she hears Pinkerton calling her name.