Lyric Opera's 'Madama Butterfly' Reimagines Puccini's Orientalism Through VR

Director Matthew Ozawa's lavish staging explores the white male fantasy at the heart of the classic opera.

Mar. 16, 2026 at 8:03pm

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Lyric Opera's production of Puccini's "Madama Butterfly," directed by Matthew Ozawa, frames the classic opera through the lens of virtual reality, making explicit the white male fantasy at the heart of the story. While the lavish spectacle and heartfelt performances are praised, the production remains "painful to see" as the orientalist narrative is still enacted, even if condemned by the framing device.

Why it matters

Ozawa's framing of "Madama Butterfly" through VR highlights the problematic nature of the opera's portrayal of Japan and Asian women as a white male fantasy. By making this explicit, the production invites critical examination of the work's inherent orientalism, even as it continues to present that same fantasy on stage.

The details

The production opens with a contemporary apartment setting, where a man in casual clothes dons a VR headset and enters the world of "Madama Butterfly." In this virtual realm, the character of Pinkerton is reimagined as a U.S. Navy lieutenant pursuing a temporary Japanese bride, Cio-Cio-San, who has even converted to Christianity in anticipation of their marriage. As the story unfolds, the line between reality and virtual reality blurs, as Pinkerton's real-life wife, Kate, enters the picture.

  • The production runs from March 19 to April 12, 2026 at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago.

The players

Matthew Ozawa

The director who co-commissioned and reimagined Puccini's "Madama Butterfly" for this production, framing the classic opera through the lens of virtual reality.

Karah Son

The soprano who portrays the role of Cio-Cio-San, the Japanese bride at the center of the opera.

Evan LeRoy Johnson

The tenor who plays the role of Pinkerton, the U.S. Navy lieutenant who marries and abandons Cio-Cio-San.

Alexis Peart

The mezzo-soprano who plays the role of Kate, Pinkerton's real-life wife.

Florence Agpalo

The young actress who plays the role of Trouble, the child born from Pinkerton's union with Cio-Cio-San.

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What they’re saying

“Ozawa's framing of Madama Butterfly through the lens of a VR headset makes explicit the idea that such a story of Japan and Asian women is a white male fantasy. For this reason alone, this production deserves applause.”

— Irene Hsiao, Theater Critic (Chicago Reader)

“Son's rendition of Cio-Cio-San's aria 'Un bel dì,' infused with a heart-stopping longing that is pure tragedy in its love for impossible possibility, is one of those moments.”

— Irene Hsiao, Theater Critic (Chicago Reader)

What’s next

The production will continue its run at the Lyric Opera House in Chicago through April 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Lyric Opera's production of "Madama Butterfly" highlights the problematic nature of the opera's orientalist portrayal of Japan and Asian women, even as it presents a visually stunning and emotionally powerful interpretation of the classic work. The production invites critical examination of the work's inherent biases while also showcasing the artistry of the performers.