The young geisha, Cio-Cio-San, revels in happiness when the American Naval Officer Pinkerton marries her, believing she is entering a real, binding marriage for life. Forsaking her religion and community, she learns all too late that for Pinkerton, their marriage is merely an illusion – with tragic consequences.

Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, comes to the Lake Stage for the first time with Enrique Mazzola (who was also responsible for the Rigoletto production) conducting. Director Andreas Homoki (artistic director of the Opernhaus Zürich), and his internationally renowned team use Michael Levine’s magical stage set with its subtle landscape paintings to bring Japanese flair to Lake Constance, Austria.