Cio-Cio-San, the main character in Madama Butterfly, means butterfly in Japanese.
The Star-Spangled Banner, America’s national anthem, is littered throughout the opera. Keep an ear out.
Bring Him Home from Les Miserables is very similar to Humming Chorus in Act 2 of Madama Butterfly. Les Miserables is well known for being heavily influenced by Puccini’s work. Can you hear the similarity?
Cio-Cio San’s son is named Sorrow… still not as bad as Apple.
Puccini was a lifetime chain-smokier of Toscano cigars.
The opera Madama Butterfly was derived in part from the short story ‘Madame Butterfly’ written by John Luther Long in 1898 and is said to be loosely based on a true story.
Miss Saigon is directly based on the story of Madama Butterfly.
The Sex Pistols released a techno single entitled Madama Butterfly which features vocals of both Pinkerton and Cio-Cio-San.
In addition to music and women, Puccini had a great passion for cars and was responsible for the construction of the first Italian off-road vehicle.
The blockbuster film Fatal Attraction starring Michael Douglas and Glenn Close makes several references to Madama Butterfly with the soundtrack featuring extracts from the opera. The alternate ending of the film shows Alex committing suicide in an identical fashion as Cio-Cio-San while Un bel dì plays in the background.