# Puccini Madama Butterfly opera productions

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/puccini-madama-butterfly-opera-productions
> Updated: 2026-08-24T15:31:41.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 3.

The 72nd Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago opened with Madama Butterfly, featuring two distinct productions. One utilized innovative lighting and a staging where the protagonist commits suicide by stabbing herself in the abdomen. A second production, directed by Pier Francesco Maestrini, employed a traditional set with a large fan structure and video projections. This version was noted for its use of manga-style ideograms and a performance by soprano Selene Zanetti, though some critics found certain movements lacked sufficient rehearsal time.

Following these performances, the Operaprima-Wien production, part of the ‘Puccini Project 2026’, was scheduled for late August and early September at Villa Gradenigo Sabbatini in Pozzuolo del Friuli. Directed by Maestro Tiziano Duca, the production features Yitian Luan as Cio-Cio-San and Gustavo Porta as Pinkerton. This project aims to move opera into the community and includes educational components via the ‘Cantieri Aperti’ program and an exhibition titled ‘La musica di Puccini e l’incontro incompatibile fra due mondi.’

The Pozzuolo del Friuli performances are set for August 28, August 30, and September 1. The event coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Friuli earthquake and includes a free lyric-choral concert on August 29 at Spazio Villalta in Udine.

## Timeline

### 2026-08-24: Madama Butterfly to be performed in Pozzuolo del Friuli

Operaprima-Wien will perform Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Villa Gradenigo Sabbatini in Pozzuolo del Friuli on August 28, 30, and September 1.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/madama-butterfly-to-be-performed-in-pozzuolo-del-friuli

### 2026-08-16: Operaprima-Wien to present Madama Butterfly preview in Udine

Operaprima-Wien will host a community dialogue in Udine on August 19 to preview their upcoming production of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Villa Sabbatini.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/operaprima-wien-to-present-madama-butterfly-preview-in-udine

### 2026-08-08: Puccini Festival opens with Madama Butterfly in Torre del Lago

The 72nd Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago features Madama Butterfly, with productions ranging from innovative, visually evocative stagings to more traditional sets with modern video projections.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/puccini-festival-opens-with-madama-butterfly-in-torre-del-lago

---
Cite as: Puccini Madama Butterfly opera productions. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/puccini-madama-butterfly-opera-productions