I attended a performance of *Madama Butterfly* at the Metropolitan Opera on March 19, 2026. Conducted by Carlo Rizzi and featuring Ailyn Pérez in the role of Cio-Cio-San, the production was immensely beautiful, showcasing Puccini’s verismo style to its fullest. While I was initially drawn to the work’s East Asian setting, the Met was simultaneously presenting a highly successful new production of *Tristan und Isolde*.
