CAN LOVE ENDURE ALL?
Puccini’s Madame Butterfly offers one of opera’s most intimate and devastating portraits. In Nagasaki, a young geisha marries an American naval officer, placing her faith in a future that proves heartbreakingly uncertain. As the years pass, Butterfly holds fast to what she believes is true, even as the world around her shifts. Puccini’s score captures every shade of that journey, from quiet anticipation to overwhelming loss, with remarkable clarity and restraint.
Performing January 29 and 31, this production focuses on sharing Butterfly's story with directness and honesty. Knoxville Opera invites you to witness a work of profound emotional depth and a tale shaped by memory, endurance, and the lasting imprint of love.
Sung in Italian with projected English Translations.
Tickets start at just $35.
Special tickets are available for grade school students—check out Penny4Arts here.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
7:30 PM
SUNDAY, JANUARY 31
2:30 PM
This project is being supported in whole or in part by federal award number 21.027 awarded to Knox County by the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Arts & Culture Alliance.This project is being supported, in whole or in part, by federal award number SLFRP5534 awarded to the State of Tennessee by the U.S. Department of the Treasury.
DISCOVER THE HISTORY
Pre-show talks begin 1 hour before the show and run for 40 minutes.
LOCATION AND TIME TBA
MEET THE CAST
Judith Yan
Conductor
Dean Anthony
Stage Director
Karen Chia-ling Ho
Cio-Cio-san
Kristin Choi
Suzuki
John Pickle
B.F. Pinkerton
Richard Ollarsaba
Sharpless
Julius Ahn
Goro
Zizhao Wang
The Bonze
HELPFUL INFO
Directions to the Tennessee Theatre can be found here. For the easiest access to the theatre, we recommend using the State Street Parking Garage.
Questions about what to expect when attending the opera? Check out our FAQ’s here!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS!
Our sponsors help enrich Knoxville with programs like this as we continue to develop a vibrant arts community that unites people in unforgettable ways.