"Madama Butterfly" of the Albanian scene

The new production of the opera "Madama Butterfly" composed by Giacomo Puccini with a libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa will come to the stage for five evenings for the public at the National Opera and Ballet Theater on May 26, 27, 28, 30 and June 1. But TKOB has shared material on the history of "Madama Butterfly" on the Albanian stage. In 1961, the main role of Cio Cio San (Madama Butterfly) in Puccini's masterpiece was performed by the soprano Gjyzepina Kosturi and then by Nina Mula, who still today hold the "trophy" of the first Madama Butterfly. In 2003, after 42 years, soprano Marjana Leka returned to the TKOB stage, marking this role in the long list of her 33-year career. "In the same production, Eva Golemi and Sonila Baboçi switch roles on different nights", says TKOB. In 2007 and 2016, the first TKOB soloist with the most roles performed in the history of Albanian opera, soprano Eva Golemi, performs Cio Cio San in the new production of "Madama Butterfly". In 2014, the soprano Ermonela Jaho returns to Albania to perform the prima donna in Puccini's work. "The most appreciated soprano in the world", according to "The Economist", listed her performance in the history of sopranos who have debuted "Madama Butterfly" on our stage", says TKOB. In 2024, Anna Pirozzi, the Italian soprano of international fame, described as "the most sought-after dramatic soprano of international stages", debuts on the Albanian stage for the first time in her career, the role of Cio Cio San.