Following an old tradition, military lieutenant Pinkerton marries the young prostitute Cho-Cho-San, named Butterfly, to give his relationship with her a serious stature. After leaving her, Butterfly waits for him to return with their child and painfully loses herself in her hopes for a free, self-determined existence outside the inhuman laws of her daily reality. When Pinkerton finally returns, Cho-Cho-San realises that he will not be able to fulfil her hopes. There is only one way out for her to finally escape her bleak existence.

Puccini's Madama Butterfly is one of the most successful works in the Italian repertoire. Apart from its exotic appeal, the story seemed made for Puccini, "with the soulful character of Pinkerton", according to Puccini biographer Dieter Schickling, "who stands for all men (including Puccini himself), instrumentalising women as the instruments of their lust. Puccini himself described Madama Butterfly as his "most soulful and expressive opera".

Introduction to the performance
45 minutes before the performance starts, dramaturgy offers an introduction to the performance in the theatre bar/garden side of the theatre on the following dates. Admission is included in the ticket.