Madama Butterfly on New Year’s Eve

• Puccini’s emotionally charged masterpiece returns to Sydney for one glittering night, hear the soaring “Un bel dì” and feel every heartbeat of Butterfly’s tragic story.

• Opera Australia’s celebrated production, led by world-class vocalists and designers, has dazzled critics worldwide for its emotional depth and breathtaking staging.

• Expect themes of devotion, heartbreak, and cultural contrast brought to life with floating petals, a mirrored moat, and exquisite Japanese-inspired costumes. Book your tickets before they’re gone.

• As midnight nears, the curtain falls and the Sydney skyline erupts in fireworks, ushering in the new year surrounded by music, champagne, and harbour lights at the iconic Joan Sutherland Theatre.

The story

Set in Nagasaki at the turn of the 20th century, Cio-Cio-San, or Butterfly, is a young Japanese woman who embraces marriage to the American naval officer Pinkerton, believing in a lasting union. Pinkerton treats it as a temporary adventure while Butterfly invests her entire future. Their hopes and expectations collide in a profoundly emotional tale of faith, betrayal and heartbreak.