Madama Butterfly (Puccini)

Giacomo Puccini’s *Madama Butterfly* is a three-act Italian opera that follows a young Japanese woman whose marriage to an American naval officer collapses under cultural misunderstanding and unequal power. The work has been part of New York’s operatic life for more than a century, frequently returning as a touchstone for debates about representation and the legacy of Orientalism on Western stages. Amore Opera presents it at the Hungarian House of New York, placing Puccini’s tightly scored emotions in an intimate Manhattan room. One hard truth remains: the music can feel humane even when the viewpoint is not.