World-Renowned Artists Join Teatru Astra's 2026 Production of Madama Butterfly

Teatru Astra is proud to announce the principal cast for Giacomo Puccini’s enduring masterpiece, Madama Butterfly, which will be presented on Thursday 29 October and Saturday 31 October 2026.

Irish soprano Celine Byrne, who will take on the demanding title role of Cio Cio San, has established a strong international reputation, particularly for her interpretations of the great Puccini heroines. She has performed Madama Butterfly to critical acclaim at the Bregenzer Festspiele, Opéra National de Bordeaux, Antwerp Opera and Irish National Opera, among other major engagements. Byrne has also appeared at the Royal Opera House, where she made her debut as Rusalka, and has worked with internationally renowned artists including José Carreras, Roberto Alagna and Joseph Calleja.

Italian tenor Leonardo Caimi is no stranger to the Astra stage and returns to Gozo as Pinkerton, a role he has performed at major international venues, including the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Oper Leipzig, La Monnaie in Brussels and the Puccini Festival in Torre del Lago. Praised for his velvety tone, elegant musicality and compelling acting, Caimi is a regular guest at leading opera houses including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Real Madrid and the Bavarian State Opera.

Sanja Anastasia, who returns to Teatru Astra as Suzuki, is likewise no new name to its audiences. One of Europe’s leading dramatic mezzo-sopranos, Anastasia is acclaimed for her vocal power, intensity and depth. She has performed at major opera houses and festivals across Europe and Asia, and has been a regular guest at the Arena di Verona since 2013. She was awarded the BraVo Award, Golden Statue for Outstanding Achievement in Classical Music in 2024, and the SAYA International Opera Award in 2025.

Completing the cast is Bulgarian baritone Vladimir Stoyanov as Sharpless. An internationally recognised baritone, Stoyanov has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages, including the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro Real Madrid, Opéra de Paris, Wiener Staatsoper, Teatro alla Scala and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. His distinguished career has seen him work with conductors including Zubin Mehta, Seiji Ozawa, Riccardo Muti and Antonio Pappano. His recent highlights include La traviata at the Bregenz Festival and Madama Butterfly at the Royal Opera House in London.

Mro Dr John Galea will lead the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. The direction will be entrusted to Enrico Stinchelli. Francis Camilleri will serve as chorus master and rehearsal pianist.

Tickets are available on www.teatruastra.org.mt.

Madama Butterfly is being presented in collaboration with the Arts Council Malta under the Gozo Cultural Support Programme, the Ministry for Gozo and Planning, and Bank of Valletta.