Opera Insights: Madama Butterfly

Wednesday,  April 22, 2026 at 7:00pm MDT

~ Featuring Madeleine Snow AB'20 ~

A Zoom Event

Please RSVP below and we will send you the Zoom link, prior to the event.
 

In conjunction with the RMHUC's upcoming event to see Madama Butterfly performed by Opera Colorado, please join us for a virtual presentation and discussion with Harvard alum and opera professional Madeleine Snow AB'20, currently with Arizona Opera. Madeleine will provide an overview of the basics of opera and delve into the story, staging, and performance history of Madama Butterfly. 

This presentation will take place via Zoom on April 22, 2026 at 7 P.M. MT 

This event is free and open to all alumni and their guests, whether or not they plan on attending Opera Colorado's performance of Madama Butterfly on May 7, 2026. For more information on that event, please visit RMHUC at the Opera: May 7, 2026.

The presentation may be recorded in order to make it available to those who are unable to attend live. 

Madeleine Snow AB'20

Madeleine Snow is an adventurous stage director, creative collaborator, and arts educator.

A 2024-2026 Studio Artist in the Marion Roose Pullin Opera Studio at Arizona Opera, Snow will direct La Cenerentola for the company, following her immersive outdoor stagings of La finta giardiniera and her work directing and choreographing the Studio Cabaret. During the 2025-2026 season, Snow also stages L’elisir d’amore with Boulder Opera, directs Opera Colorado's touring production of Roméo et Juliette, and makes her company debut with Opera Grand Rapids as associate director on Madama Butterfly. A 2026 Directing Fellow at Wolf Trap Opera, Snow will assistant direct Eugene Onegin and Tosca. Her previous assistant directing credits include productions with Arizona Opera, Opera Colorado, Central City Opera, PAC NYC, and Palm Beach Opera.

Snow earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Theater, Dance, and Media from Harvard University and holds a Master of Music degree in Opera Stage Directing from the Eastman School of Music. www.madeleinesnow.com

Suggested Opera Resources

• Voice types in opera (with embedded video examples)
• Timeline of opera history
• Glossary of opera terms

About Madama Butterfly  

Music by Giacomo Puccini
Libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Premiered Premiered February 17, 1904, La Scala, Milan, Italy

Madama Butterfly makes its highly anticipated return to Opera Colorado, bringing Puccini’s emotionally charged masterpiece to the stage. This iconic opera follows Cio-Cio-San, a young Japanese geisha whose strength and unwavering hope carry her through betrayal, loss, and the struggle to survive in the face of devastating choices.

With its lush, soaring melodies and striking themes of honor and survival, Madama Butterfly remains one of opera’s most moving works. Get the long and short of the plot and learn about the characters.

To view an edited version of the 2025 Zoom presentation for La bohème, please navigate to: Opera Insights with Madeleine Snow 2025

The Ellie Caulkins Opera House at Denver Performing Arts Complex
Performed in Italian, with English and Spanish subtitles at every seat.

Please RSVP below, and we will send you the link prior to this Zoom presentation.