Puccini’s Madama Butterfly – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly opened up last Thursday night to a sold-out crowd in Vancouver, at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre.I went with Rosa, my regular opera date, as she’s an opera-enthusiast and knows all, or at least most, of the arias. It’s always a pleasure to attend with her and we always do a toast before the show.

This opera was my first ever opera that my late husband took me to years back. The title then was only one vowel difference; Madame (instead of Madama) Butterfly. The difference between the names is primarily the title and adaptation of the story. Madame Butterfly refers to the original short story by John Luther Long, which inspired Puccini’s opera, but Madama Butterfly is the correct Italian title.

Okay; I’m glad we got that straight!

Karen Chia-ling Ho as Cio-Cio-San in Vancouver Opera’s 2025 production of Madama Butterfly. Photo by Emily Cooper Photography.

Another gut-wrenching story; Madama Butterfly is widely considered one of the greatest works in operatic history. Puccini’s deeply emotional story and music is moving and steers us through all the operatic elements of love, heartbreak, hope, and tragedy.

The opera tells the tragic story of Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese geisha, who falls in love with Lieutenant Pinkerton, an American naval officer stationed in Nagasaki. They marry, but for Pinkerton, it’s only a marriage of convenience, a touristic fantasy abroad before he finds himself a “real” (American) bride. Cio-Cio-San remains devoted to him, only to be abandoned, leading to a heartbreaking conclusion. You might want to bring kleenex.

Karen Chia-ling Ho as Cio-Cio-San and Adam Luther as Pinkerton in Vancouver Opera’s 2025 production of Madama Butterfly. Photo by Emily Cooper Photography.

Vancouver Opera’s 2025 production of Madama Butterfly. Photo by Emily Cooper Photography.

The themes of love, betrayal, and cultural clashes have made Madama Butterfly one of the most frequently performed operas worldwide.

The cast was unbelievably talented. The live VSO orchestra is also a treat to behold and we’re lucky to have them.

On until May 4^th, 2025. Get your Tickets here:

https://www.vancouveropera.ca/whats-on/Butterfly/

RUNNING TIME Approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including one 25-minute intermission.

“INSPIRATION is an awakening, a quickening of all man’s faculties, and it is manifested in all high artistic achievements.” – Giacomo Puccini

My inspiration for the week: the Vancouver Opera‘s opening night performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly; a beautiful story of love, honour, heartbreak and sacrifice.

This famous opera which was composed by Giacomo Puccini in 1904 (and remained his personal favourite throughout the remainder of his life) is based on a short story “Madame Butterfly” (1898) by John Luther Long. In brief it’s about a pleasure seeking American naval officer based in Nagasaki, Japan who leases a house and weds a young geisha. He is only briefly enchanted with her (his “Butterfly” – oh you know what some men are like; they profess their love only to lose interest when they want to move on to the next) while she in turn, gives herself wholly to the marriage. He abandons her and then returns to claim their child. Butterfly is devastated and dishonoured and makes an ultimate sacrifice to honour her family.
Having spent some time in Kyoto when I lived in Japan, I was fascinated by the beauty and elegance of the mysterious geisha. I followed them around but never quite knew where they were going. I wanted to learn their secret but maybe it was best not knowing. For me, at the time it was a different world and an escape from the norm. They had a reserved, otherworldliness unlike other women which was refreshingly appealing. They gave the illusion of being faithful and trustworthy. I loved reading Memoirs of a Geisha (surprisingly it was written by a man; Arthur Golden).

“Why, in the Peking Opera, are women’s roles played by men?…Because only a man knows how a woman is supposed to act.” – David Henry Hwang (Tony-award winning creator of the beloved play M. Butterfly).

Some TICKETS are still available at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre. Only 6 performances from March 5 – 13, 2016.