Madama Butterfly at Wiener Staatsoper GmbH

1 Act
Near the city of Nagasaki, the Lieutenant of the American marine Pinkerton visited a House that he wants to rent of owned Goro. Here, he wants to spend his honeymoon with the Japanese geisha CIO-cio-San, with the girl, which he compares to a butterfly and that he intends to take according to the custom at that time tolerated in temporary marriage to wife. What tell him by his bride Suzuki, butterflys servant, and Goro can not change his levity, nor the pity, that expresses the American Consul of Sharpless. You come together, but is the toast of Pinkerton's America and everything that binds him to America.
CIO-cio-San appears, accompanied by her girlfriends. While the wedding ceremony is arranged, she talks about her life, her family. The family impoverished by the suicide of her father. Pinkerton tells also that that it has accepted his faith.
This sign of love will immediately after the ceremony to an incident: your uncle, a Buddhist priest who comes to curse them because of their apostasy. But more than that would sacrifice Butterfly in order to please her husband. And in the magic of the in-breaking night, also the stranger moments feel the size of the heart, which beats against him.

2 Act
Three years CIO-cio-San is already waiting on her husband, where she gave birth to a son. Pinkerton has promised her before his departure to come back. In thought, she sees his ship, but also the prayers of Suzuki, her maid, assets do not bring the longed-for. Sharpless occurs; but his mission goes beyond its power: he should inform CIO-cio-San that Pinkerton in America got married, that the Geisha is free again. CIO-cio-San can barely read the Consul, what letter stands in Pinkerton's except joy, finally to hear anything from her lover, she assailed him himself with questions. Goro has learned from the marriage of Pinkerton's and brings the rich Yamadori freelance. In the opinion of Sharpless have already taught butterfly, they submit their proposal and be indignantly rejected by the unsuspecting. Goro but has a bit of news: Pinkerton's ship was expected in the port. Joy butterflys is so great that Sharpless still always finds the courage to tell her the truth. His advice to marry Yamadori, finds only incomprehension. Because he does not see that she and Pinkerton belong together, not he sees it in the eyes of their child? In their decorated house Butterfly with their servant a night long waits a last night, still on her husband.

3 Act
Until towards morning, CIO-cio-San is been overwhelmed by sleep. When Pinkerton comes accompanied by the Consul, he is received by Suzuki. Their portrayal of butterflys loyalty attacks him in the heart. But Suzuki must see that the doom to stop no longer is: In the garden, she sees the wife of Pinkerton's, the woman who he has brought with him from America. Packed of regret flees Pinkerton, Kate and the Consul are shaken. Madame Butterfly grasped with a view of the situation. Their excitement gives way to a terrifying calmness: you are urged to give their child the father, he may pick it up in a short time. Remained Butterfly farewell alone by her child. She then kills himself according to the custom of their fathers. "Honorable to die, who can no longer live in honor."