MARCUS
MERKEL

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie

When the American naval lieutenant Pinkerton arrives in Nagasaki, the intermediary Goro has already prepared everything: a house with staff and marriage to the young geisha Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly, all with one month's notice. Cio-Cio-San is taking a big risk with this marriage, as she has to give up both the culture and religion of her homeland and expose herself to the ostracism of her outraged family. Shortly after the wedding night, Pinkerton leaves Japan with the promise of a speedy return. But three years pass without his return. Nevertheless, Cio-Cio-San clings to the hope that she will soon be living with Pinkerton and their three-year-old child again. And suddenly, one night, a cannon shot announces the arrival of Pinkerton's ship. Unlike Cio Cio-San, Pinkerton has built a new life for himself in the years since the wedding: a new American family and a new wife who accompanies him to bring Cio-Cio-San's child to America. Desperate, she sees suicide as the only way out.

Puccini's overwhelming musical portrayal of the greatest hope and deepest despair has made his "Japanese tragedy" one of the most popular and most frequently performed works of operatic art. Directed by Markus Dietze, the open skies of Ehrenbreitstein Fortress provide an incomparable setting for the story of this life's destiny caught between two worlds. The musical interpretation by the chief conductor of the Koblenz Theatre is sure to open up new worlds for the audience.

Musical direction: Marcus Merkel
Production: Markus Dietze
Stage and costumes: Christian Binz
State Orchestra Rheinische Philharmonie