Kristine Opolais makes her much-anticipated return to the Greek National Opera as the title role of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly this month. Madama Butterfly is a milestone work for the Greek National Opera, as it is the first opera ever staged by it as a newly-founded organization, on 25 October 1940, three days before the declaration of the Greco-Italian war. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the GNO, with this production set to celebrate the anniversary and signal the GNO’s return to action after the pandemic.

On October 18, 23, 30, and November 1, 8, 11, Ms. Opolais shares the stage at the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center with an excellent roster of colleagues including Chryssanthi Spitadi as Suzuki, Violetta Lousta and Diamanti Kritsotaki as Kate Pinkerton, Gianluca Terranova and Dimitris Paksoglou as F.P. Pinkerton, Dionysios Sourbis and Nikos Kοtenidis as Sharpless, Nicholas Stefanou and Yannis Kalyvas as Goro, and Marios Sarantidis as Yamadori, among others. Lucas Karytinos conducts the Orchestra, Chorus, and Soloists of the GNO.

Argentinian director Huge de Ana’s impressive production will feature traditional Japanese costumes, while the sets and video projections illustrate the country of the rising sun on the one hand and the heroine’s psyche on the other. Video projections are designed by Sergio Metalli and lighting by Valerio Alfieri.

Photo credit: GNO / Andreas Simopoulos