*BROADCAST LIVE FROM THE ROYAL OPERA HOUSE, LONDON*
Set in 19th-century Japan, Puccini’s heart-rending opera tells the tale of Cio-Cio-San, a young geisha who falls in love with an American naval officer – and pays the ultimate price.
On a starlit night in Nagasaki, these are the words spoken by American naval officer Pinkerton to young geisha Cio-Cio-San. But as they both learn, words and promises carelessly spoken can have indelible consequences.
With a score that includes Butterfly’s aria, ‘Un bel dì, vedremo’ (‘One fine day’) and the ‘Humming Chorus’, Giacomo Puccini’s opera is entrancing and ultimately heart-breaking. Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s exquisite production takes inspiration from 19th-century European images of Japan.
Cast
Cio-Cio-San: Maria Agresta
Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton: Joshua Guerrero
Sharpless: Carlos Álvarez
Suzuki: Christine Rice
Goro: Carlo Bosi
The Royal Opera Chorus
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Credits
Music: Giacomo Puccini
Libretto: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
Directors: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Set designer: Christian Fenouillat
Costume designer: Agostino Cavalca
Lighting designer: Christophe Forey
Conducted by: Nicola Luisotti
Language: Sung in Italian with English subtitles
2022-2023 SEASON PRESENTATION
The Royal Opera House is delighted to announce its biggest Cinema Season ever. Over 2022/23, an astonishing 13 productions from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera will be broadcast to more than 1,300 cinemas around the world, bringing the joy of live performance to audiences from the UK all the way to New Zealand.
The Cinema Season opens in September with Puccini’s heart-rending opera Madama Butterfly.
The following month, cinema goers can experience Robert Carsen’s brand-new production of Aida, conducted by Antonio Pappano; and watch La bohème, sung by an outstanding cast that includes Juan Diego Flórez and Danielle de Niese.
In December, The Royal Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ will reach audiences across the globe, offering sweeping snowscapes, magical stagecraft and a showstopping series of dances performed in the dream-like Kingdom of Sweets.
The new year kicks off with live broadcasts of The Barber of Seville, Turandot and The Royal Ballet’s new production of Frederick
Ashton’s Cinderella, redesigned by a world-class creative team that includes set designer Tom Pye, Oscar award-winning costume designer Alexandra Byrne, lighting designer David Finn, video designer Finn Ross and magic consultant Chris Fisher.
In April and May, audiences can enjoy Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro and a live relay of The Royal Ballet’s The Sleeping Beauty; and in June, the Cinema Season will close with Il trovatore – a brand new production that will bring Olivier Award-winning director Adele Thomas back to Covent Garden following the
success of Bajazet (2022) and Berenice (2019).
Our cinema programme has brought stunning productions to audiences across the globe since 2008. Broadcasts offer audiences the best seat in the house for each performance, and include exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, interviews and insights into the rehearsal process.
