Poster of Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

Plot: Mirella Freni, Placido Domingo, Christa Ludwig, and Robert Kerns star in this Jean-Pierre Ponnelle-directed version of the Puccini opera, with Herbert von Karajan conducting the Vienna Philharmonic. Madama Butterfly is a staple of the standard operatic repertoire for companies around the world, ranking 7th in the Operabase list of the most-performed operas worldwide
Release Date: Saturday, September 14 1974
50 years ago
Scroll to Crew

Cast

Portrait of Mirella FreniMirella Freni. Mirella Freni was 39 in Madama Butterfly as 'Cio-Cio-San, known as Butterfly'.
Birthday: Wed, Feb 27 1935 –
Died: Sun, Feb 09 2020
Portrait of Plácido DomingoPlácido Domingo. Plácido Domingo was 33 in Madama Butterfly as 'Pinkerton'.
Birthday: Tue, Jan 21 1941
Portrait of Robert KernsRobert Kerns. Robert Kerns was 41 in Madama Butterfly as 'Sharpless'.
Birthday: Thu, Jun 08 1933 –
Died: Wed, Feb 15 1989
Portrait of Christa LudwigChrista Ludwig. Christa Ludwig was 46 in Madama Butterfly as 'Suzuki'.
Birthday: Fri, Mar 16 1928 –
Died: Sat, Apr 24 2021
Portrait of Michel SénéchalMichel Sénéchal. Michel Sénéchal was 47 in Madama Butterfly as 'Goro'.
Birthday: Fri, Feb 11 1927 –
Died: Sun, Apr 01 2018
Portrait of Marius RintzlerMarius Rintzler. Marius Rintzler was >> in Madama Butterfly as 'Bonze'.
Birthday: Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Hans HelmHans Helm. Hans Helm was >> in Madama Butterfly as 'Comisario imperial'.
Birthday: Unknown Birthday
Portrait of Elke ScharyElke Schary. Elke Schary was 27 in Madama Butterfly as 'Kate Pinkerton'.
Birthday: Sat, Feb 08 1947
Portrait of Herbert von KarajanHerbert von Karajan. Herbert von Karajan was 66 in Madama Butterfly as 'Self - Conductor'.
Birthday: Sun, Apr 05 1908 –
Died: Sun, Jul 16 1989

Crew

Portrait of Jean-Pierre PonnelleJean-Pierre Ponnelle. Jean-Pierre Ponnelle was 42 in Madama Butterfly as 'Director'
Birthday: Fri, Feb 19 1932 –
Died: Thu, Aug 11 1988
Portrait of Luigi IllicaLuigi Illica. Luigi Illica would have been no older than 62 in Madama Butterfly as 'Writer'
Birthday: Sat, May 09 1857 –
Died: Tue, Dec 16 1919
Portrait of Giuseppe GiacosaGiuseppe Giacosa. Giuseppe Giacosa would have been no older than 58 in Madama Butterfly as 'Writer'
Birthday: Thu, Oct 21 1847 –
Died: Sun, Sep 02 1906
Portrait of Giacomo PucciniGiacomo Puccini. Giacomo Puccini would have been no older than 65 in Madama Butterfly as 'Music'
Birthday: Wed, Dec 22 1858 –
Died: Sat, Nov 29 1924
Portrait of David BelascoDavid Belasco. David Belasco would have been no older than 77 in Madama Butterfly as 'Novel'
Birthday: Mon, Jul 25 1853 –
Died: Thu, May 14 1931