Opera San José to Present ‘Madama Butterfly’ with Emily Michiko Jensen

By Francisco Salazar

Opera San José is set to present Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly.”

The opera will be directed by Michelle Ainna Cuizon and conducted by Joseph Marcheso and will be presented at the California Theatre.

The cast will feature Opera San José Artist-in-Residence Emily Michiko Jensen in the title role of Cio-Cio-San, mezzo-soprano Kayla Nanto as Suzuki, Courtney Miller as Kate Pinkerton, tenor César Delgado as Pinkerton, tenor Ilhee Lee as Goro, and baritone Eugene Brancoveanu as Sharpless.

In a statement, Opera San José General Director & CEO Shawna Lucey said, “Continuing our season with Madama Butterfly is a powerful reminder of opera’s ability to illuminate the deepest corners of the human heart. Puccini’s score is one of the most achingly beautiful in the repertoire, and under Michelle’s sensitive direction, this production invites audiences to experience the sweeping passion, cultural collision, and profound tragedy at the core of Butterfly’s story. We look forward to welcoming audiences back to the California Theatre for an evening of music and drama that is as emotionally stirring as it is unforgettable.”

The production opens on Nov. 16, 2025 and runs through Nov. 30, 2025.

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