Puccini’s most popular opera, this psychological drama explores the innermost being of the young protagonist while exalting the intense poetry of everything that is small. To a libretto by Illica and Giacosa based on the tale Madame Butterfly by John Luther Long and the Japanese tragedy Madame Butterfly by David Belasco, it had its world première at La Scala in Milan on 17 February 1904. The set for this production is by the Japanese artist Mariko Mori and was part of the special events section of the 55th International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale.