Student Preview
Madama Butterfly
Music by Giacomo Puccini, Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Date: Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time: 10:30 AM - 1:30 PM
Location: Symphony Hall, Phoenix
Rating: PG-13
Language: Performed in Italian with English and Spanish supertitles
Length: 3 hours including one 30 minute intermission
Immerse yourself in Puccini’s timeless classic Madama Butterfly — a story of hope, longing, and ultimate sacrifice.
Featuring some of the most exquisite arias and beautiful duets ever composed, this critically acclaimed new co-production is grounded during the Allied occupation of postwar Japan between 1946 and 1953.
Madama Butterfly follows the young Cio-Cio-San as she dreams of a future filled with love alongside Lt. Pinkerton, an American naval officer. As the tale unfolds, betrayal and heartbreak cast their shadow, leading to an unforgettable finale.
Arizona Opera’s production — with Puccini’s ravishing score, an extraordinary cast and orchestra, new sets and costumes, and a design team of all first-generation Asian women — explores the passion for finding a better life, the heartfelt desire to be seen and accepted, and the cost of believing in promises that are built on fundamentally unequal ground.
It is a musical journey of unmatched beauty and emotional depth, certain to captivate audiences anew as it sheds fresh light on Puccini’s masterpiece and the world around us.
GENERAL INFORMATION:
Grade Level: Each performance is individually rated.
Cost: FREE for Title 1 Schools, $5 per student including College, $10 per chaperone
Chaperone Requirement: One supervising teacher required per 10 students.
Student Requirement: To attend a Student Preview, you are required to be a CURRENT student and may be asked to present a student ID when picking up your ticket if you are not traveling with a large school group. If you are not able to present your student ID when picking up your ticket at will-call you will not be allowed into the event.
No school ID? Before completing your reservation, indicate in the notes section why you cannot present an ID (Homeschool student, private group, etc.)