Mariusz Treliński’s staging of “Madame Butterfly” celebrates its 25th anniversary

The legendary staging of Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Madame Butterfly” by Mariusz Treliński and Boris Kudlička celebrates the 25th anniversary of its premiere on the stage of the Polish National Opera. First shown on May 29, 1999, the performance was an unprecedented success and became one of the milestones not only in the work of the artistic duo, but also in the history of Polish opera.

“Madame Butterfly” is a moving story of the young geisha Cio-Cio-San who falls in love with the American navy lieutenant Pinkerton. He considers his marriage to be a temporary adventure, while she believes in his love and abandons her culture for him. Full of drama, the opera combines lyrical phrases with monumental choral parts. It is one of the most emotional and touching works in the history of music. Puccini created unforgettable arias for the opera, including “Un bel dì vedremo” – a moving story about hope and heartbreak.

The beautiful and coherent staging by Mariusz Treliński captivates the viewer with the unconventional set designed by Boris Kudlička, devoid of unnecessary props and cheap exotics, alongside the stylistically sophisticated costumes created by Magdalena Tesławska and Paweł Grabarczyk. The Warsaw premiere (1999) delighted everyone, including Plácido Domingo himself: I have never seen such a great production of “Madame Butterfly” in my long life. This is one of the most beautiful opera performances I have ever seen… It is a spectacle that goes far beyond the framework of the opera. It is fresh, innovative, intelligent. A show full of extraordinary magic and theatrical charm – he said in an interview for the “Viva!” magazine in 2006. And it was thanks to him that the production of the Treliński – Kudlička duo reached the stage of the Opera in Washington. The American audience and critics were also thrilled.