Lyric Opera's 'Madama Butterfly' Reimagines Puccini's Classic in Virtual World

Director Matthew Ozawa's production blends the real and the virtual, raising questions about what is true love.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 6:26pm

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Lyric Opera of Chicago's production of Puccini's 'Madama Butterfly' takes a bold new approach, reimagining the classic opera in a virtual world. Director Matthew Ozawa's staging casts the lead character of Pinkerton as a modern-day gamer whose naval identity is an online avatar, while Cio-Cio-San becomes his 'Ōkami'-like fantasy. The production blends the real and virtual worlds, challenging traditional notions of romance and reality.

Why it matters

Ozawa's innovative staging confronts the opera's problematic depictions of cultural objectification and fetishization, which have long been criticized. By placing the story in a virtual realm, the production raises questions about the nature of love and relationships in the digital age, as well as the opera's continued relevance to modern audiences.

The details

Ozawa's production, first seen at the Cincinnati Opera in 2023, opens with Pinkerton, sung by tenor Evan LeRoy Johnson, in his urban apartment, surrounded by Japanese anime and manga influences. As Pinkerton dons a VR headset, the action shifts to the virtual world of old Nagasaki, where the marriage broker Goro (Rodell Rosel) engineers Pinkerton's match with the young geisha Cio-Cio-San (Karah Son). Throughout the performance, the modern world never fully leaves the stage, as Pinkerton's real-life marriage to an American wife (Alexis Peart) begins to deteriorate.

  • The production first premiered at the Cincinnati Opera in 2023.
  • The Lyric Opera of Chicago production opened on March 15, 2026.

The players

Matthew Ozawa

The director of the Lyric Opera's production of 'Madama Butterfly', who has reimagined the classic opera in a virtual world setting.

Evan LeRoy Johnson

The American tenor who plays the role of Pinkerton, the U.S. naval officer, in the Lyric Opera production.

Karah Son

The Korean soprano who plays the role of Cio-Cio-San, the young Japanese geisha, in the Lyric Opera production.

Rodell Rosel

The singer who plays the role of Goro, the marriage broker, in the Lyric Opera production.

Alexis Peart

The actress who plays the role of Pinkerton's American wife in the Lyric Opera production.

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What they’re saying

“What would you say if a blond homecoming queen fell in love with a short Japanese businessman? He treats her cruelly, then goes home for three years, during which time she prays to his picture and turns down marriage from a young Kennedy. Then, when she learns he has remarried, she kills herself. Now I believe you should consider this girl to be a deranged idiot, correct? But because it's an Oriental who kills herself for a Westerner – ah! – you find it beautiful.”

— Song Liling, Character in 'M. Butterfly' (M. Butterfly)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, Grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Lyric Opera production of 'Madama Butterfly' will continue its run through April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Ozawa's innovative staging of 'Madama Butterfly' at the Lyric Opera challenges traditional notions of romance and reality, blending the real and virtual worlds to confront the opera's problematic cultural depictions. The production raises thought-provoking questions about the nature of love and relationships in the digital age, while still preserving the beauty of Puccini's beloved score.