Who composed the opera Madame Butterfly?

Giacomo Puccini.

The opera Madame Butterfly was composed by Giacomo Puccini, an Italian composer known for his emotionally intense and melodically rich operas. Puccini, one of the greatest opera composers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wrote Madame Butterfly between 1901 and 1903, with its premiere taking place at La Scala in Milan on February 17, 1904.

The opera is based on a one-act play of the same name by David Belasco, which itself was inspired by a short story by John Luther Long. Long’s story was influenced by real-life events and Pierre Loti’s novel Madame Chrysanthème. The opera tells the tragic story of Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese geisha who falls in love with an American naval officer, Pinkerton, only to be abandoned and betrayed.

Puccini was deeply moved by the story and saw great operatic potential in its themes of love, sacrifice, and cultural conflict. However, Madame Butterfly faced a disastrous reception at its premiere, with critics and audiences finding it too long and dramatically weak. Puccini quickly revised the opera, making significant cuts and modifications, and a new version was presented a few months later in Brescia, where it was much better received.

Today, Madame Butterfly is considered one of Puccini’s finest works and a staple of the operatic repertoire worldwide. Its music is celebrated for its lyrical beauty, particularly arias such as “Un bel dì vedremo” and “Vogliatemi bene.” Puccini’s masterful orchestration and emotional depth have ensured that Madame Butterfly remains a beloved and frequently performed opera.