Madama Butterfly – Great Italian opera and great emotions at the Kleist Forum

Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" can be seen on 6 and 8 March at Frankfurt's Theaterhaus Kleist Forum. The tragic love story of the geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, and the American officer Benjamin Pinkerton contains everything that makes a successful opera: strong emotions, drama and rousing melodies between Italian operatic tradition and Asian sounds.

Director Mirella Weingarten from Staatstheater Cottbus is primarily concerned in her production with the projection of ideas and expectations in love. She asks fundamental questions: Do two people mean the same thing when they promise each other love? Do they swear the same thing when they commit to a future together? How much can they trust each other's dreams to match their own? What are they prepared to give up for a relationship?

In "Madama Butterfly", love is shattered by different life plans, cultural misunderstandings and different values. For Pinkerton, the relationship with Butterfly is an exotic pastime, for her it is the great love for which she breaks with her family and her traditions. He leaves her – pregnant and penniless – and only returns years later with his new American wife to pick up the child ...

"This picturesque production touches hearts in many senses of the word, makes them sympathise between love and the breath of death – and the applause never ends." (Lausitzer Rundschau/Märkische Oderzeitung)

When and where?

Friday, 6 March 2026 | 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, 8. March 2026  | 3:00 p.m.

Kleist Forum, Platz der Einheit 1, 15230 Frankfurt (Oder)
 

"Madama Butterfly" – Tragedy in three acts by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica
In Italian with German surtitles
Musical direction: GMD Alexander Merzyn
Director & Stage: Mirella Weingarten
Staatstheater Cottbus