Don Giovanni and Madama Butterfly on the National Opera Bucharest Stage in Early March

The first weekend of spring brings to the National Opera Bucharest stage two of the most beloved and popular opera performances from the universal lyrical repertoire: Don Giovanni by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (March 1) and Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini (March 2).

Don Giovanni (by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) – Saturday, March 1, 6:30 PM

For late 18th-century Vienna, Don Giovanni presented a daring subject, sublimated through the timeless euphemism Tutto e amore! – Everything is love! Even today, the story remains controversial, if not dangerous, as Mozart lived intensely and composed Don Giovanni with feverish passion, speed, strength, irony, and, at the same time, a deep sense of human tragedy (which, of course, reflected his exuberant personality). It’s no surprise that once the opera reached the imperial capital, just months after its Prague premiere, it was swiftly censored. Mozart reportedly said, “I did not write this opera for the Viennese, but rather for the Praguers; but above all, I wrote it for myself and my friends.” In the directorial vision of the unparalleled maestro Andrei Șerban, we are invited to admire this dramma giocoso, which always expresses joy, optimism, and serenity.

Madama Butterfly (by Giacomo Puccini) – Sunday, March 2, 6:30 PM

Few people know that Madama Butterfly, besides its undeniable lyrical and musical qualities, also carries a valuable lesson in perseverance. It’s a virtue worth remembering. Initially, Madama Butterfly was a lamentable failure before becoming one of the most beloved and frequently staged operas in the world. Giacomo Puccini had to compose five different versions of the opera before achieving the success known today. Due to its late completion and insufficient rehearsal time, the first version, premiered on February 17, 1904, at La Scala in Milan, was a massive failure and was quickly withdrawn. Later, Puccini significantly revised the score, and at its next performance on May 24, 1904, in Brescia, the revised version became an instant success. The version considered standard today, and the most frequently performed, is the fifth and final one, dating from 1907.

️ Tickets available at http://tickets.operanb.ro/ and at the National Opera Bucharest Box Office.