Kristine Opolais returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper this summer, to sing the title role of Puccini’s tragic Madama Butterfly on July 13 during the Munich Opera Festival. She is joined by Joseph Calleja as B.F. Pinkerton, Okka von der Damerau as Suzuki, and Markus Eiche as Sharpless. Stefano Ranzani leads the Bayerische Staatsorchester and Chor, in a classic production directed by Wolf Busse. Butterfly has become a signature role for Kristine, with her Metropolitan Opera debut as Cio-Cio-San described as “impressive . . . Ms. Opolais’s voluptuous, expressive voice soared over Puccini’s dense orchestration, and there were riveting moments in her portrayal” (The New York Times) and “With the right soprano in the title role, MADAMA BUTTERFLY is pretty much unstoppable. Performing the role for the first time at the Met, Kristine Opolais is definitely that singer. She has every requirement of a great Butterfly: the voice, the beauty and the art.” (BroadwayWorld.com)