Tragedy in the mirror: Minghella’s Madama Butterfly in Vienna

Ermonela Jaho (Cio-Cio-San)

Saimir Pirgu (Pinkerton) and Ermonela Jaho (Cio-Cio-San)

Attila Mókus (Sharpless) and Saimir Pirgu (Pinkerton)

Ermonela Jaho (Cio-Cio-San)

By Laura Servidei, 16 March 2026

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“reality and projection coexist simultaneously, revealing our Western gaze in action”

Reviewed at Wiener Staatsoper, Vienna on 14 March 2026

Puccini, Madama Butterfly

Vienna State Opera

Marco Armiliato, Conductor

Anthony Minghella, Director

Michael Levine, Set Designer

Han Feng, Costume Designer

Peter Mumford, Lighting Designer, Director

Orchestra of the Vienna State Opera

Concert Association Vienna State Opera Chorus

Ermonela Jaho, Cio-Cio-San (Madama Butterfly)

Saimir Pirgu, Pinkerton

Attila Mókus, Sharpless

Stephanie Maitland, Suzuki

Carolyn Choa, Choreography

Blind Summit Theatre, Puppeteer

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Orsolya Gyárfás, 19th April

Marco Armiliato’s conducting thrills and Federica Lombardi's radiant Amelia stands out in the Wiener Staatsoper’s latest revival of Simon Boccanegra.

***11

Anna Netrebko shines in Vienna’s timeless Tosca

Laura Servidei, 18th April

In a world where opera productions often stray into the abstract, the Wiener Staatsoper’s Tosca offers a refreshing return to tradition – and Anna Netrebko delivers a splendid performance.

****1

Too much and too little: Jan Lauwers’ restless Clemenza in Vienna

Chanda VanderHart, 12th March

The creative team behind the new Staatsoper Clemenza is unwilling to trust that Mozart’s opera is interesting enough to stand on its own.

***11

An Idomeneo shattered to pieces at the Wiener Staatsoper

Orsolya Gyárfás, 23rd January

A committed cast struggles to lend a spark of life to Kasper Holten's static staging of Mozart's first mature opera.

**111

A holiday Bohème: Puccini, Zeffirelli and tradition in Vienna

Laura Servidei, 21st December

Giacomo Sagripanti conducts a luxuriant reading with a cast anchored by Juan Diego Flórez and Nicole Car, in Zeffirelli’s familiar, generous, unabashedly emotional production.

***11

Stikhina, Tézier and Tetelman outstanding in classic Vienna Tosca

Mark Pullinger, 20th September

It may be on its 663rd outing, but Margarethe Wallmann's Tosca is a classic for a reason, as proved in this outstanding performance at the Wiener Staatsoper.

*****

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Laura Servidei

Mathematician, science nerd, translator of popular science books, obsessed opera fan since the teen years. Day job: business analyst in a software house developing systems for the financial industry. Amateur choral singer. Main musical interests: baroque music and Italian opera. Originally from Italy, currently based in Sweden. I make a mean eggplant parmesan.

Tragedy in the mirror: Minghella’s Madama Butterfly at the Wiener Staatsoper