Lyric Opera 2025-2026 Issue 9 - Madama Butterfly

17 | Lyric Opera of Chicago PRODUCTION SPONSORS Anonymous Donor Lisbeth Stiffel Randy L. & Melvin R. ° Berlin Marion A. Cameron-Gray Gramma Fisher Foundation of Marshalltown, Iowa ° Deceased Additional production support provided by: A Co-Production of Cincinnati Opera, Detroit Opera, Utah Opera, and Pittsburgh Opera. Scenery constructed by the Cincinnati Opera. Costumes constructed by Cincinnati Opera, Costume Works, Inc., and Utah Opera. Additional costumes provided by: Laura Whitlock, Utah Opera,The Costume Shop Chicago, Lara Berich, Costume Works, Uber Costume. Lyric Opera of Chicago gratefully acknowledges the support of the NIB Foundation Italian Opera Endowed Chair. Supertitles appear courtesy of Cincinnati Opera Lyric Opera of Chicago thanks its Official Airline, United Airlines. APPROXIMATE TIMINGS This production will be performed with one intermission. Act 1 55 minutes Intermission 30 minutes Acts 2 & 3 1 hour 30 minutes TOTAL 2 hours 55 minutes LYRIC’S 2025/26 PRESENTING SEASON SPONSOR: The Robert and Penelope Steiner Family Foundation Modern-day Pinkerton turns off the game and goes to bed. In the middle of the night, the game turns on, luring him back to play the next level, where he chooses how he will impact Butterfly’s destiny. Pinkerton chooses an American wife avatar, Kate. As the level continues, Butterfly still waits, though Suzuki persuades her to rest. Soon, Sharpless, Pinkerton and Kate arrive. Suzuki realizes who the woman is and reluctantly agrees to inform Butterfly. Pinkerton, now aware of Butterfly’s devotion, bids an anguished farewell and rushes away. Cio-Cio-San hurries in expecting to find her husband, and instead finds Kate. She instantly guesses the truth and touchingly wishes Kate happiness. She says that Pinkerton may have his son if he will return for him. Butterfly orders Suzuki and Trouble away. She has no choice but to escape this nightmare, and she pulls out the dagger with which her father committed suicide. As she raises the blade to her throat, Trouble appears. Cio-Cio-San drops the knife and embraces him. She then blindfolds him, takes the dagger, and stabs herself. As the fantasy dies, Pinkerton desperately tries to hold onto his creation, Butterfly. — Courtesy of Cincinnati Opera