The World Premiere Of The First Edition Of Puccini's Opera "Madama Butterfly" Took Place At The Helikon Opera House

Dmitry Bertman, Artistic Director and General Director of the Helikon Opera, presented the world premiere of Giacomo Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" in its first edition at his theatre. This version had never been performed before.

Italian conductor Marco Boemi, who has worked with Luciano Pavarotti and Anna Netrebko, led the performance. The first edition of "Madama Butterfly" premiered at Milan's La Scala, where it was ridiculed. The audience laughed at the robed heroines in kimonos, and the Japanese Embassy protested the portrayal of Japanese characters.

Bertman noted that this edition of the opera had never been staged again, although an audio version exists. He found Puccini's original idea highly relevant today.

The production features many participants from the theatre's Youth Opera Singers Programme, in collaboration with the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Bertman highlighted the difficulty of the Madame Butterfly role for sopranos, traditionally sung by experienced singers, but this production showcases young artists.