While stationed in Nagasaki, Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton, a lieutenant in American fleet, has decided to marry a beautiful Japanese girl. In Japan it is very easy to dissolve a marriage, Pinkerton knows that and marry Cio-Cio san called “Butterfly” preserving the right to dissolve the marriage at any moment…

ACT I.

Lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton of the U. S. Navy inspects a house overlooking Nagasaki harbor that he is leasing from Goro, a marriage broker. The house comes with three servants and a geisha wife known as Butterfly (Cio-Cio-San). The lease runs for nine hundred and ninety-nine years, subject to monthly renewal. The American consul Sharpless arrives breathless from climbing the hill. Pinkerton describes how he, like other Yankees, roams the world in search of experience and pleasure (“Dovunque al mondo”). He is not sure whether his feelings for the young girl are love or a whim, but he intends to go through with the marriage ceremony. Sharpless warns him that the girl may view the marriage differently, but Pinkerton brushes off such concerns and says someday he will take a real, American wife. He offers the consul whiskey and proposes a toast (“America forever!”). Butterfly is heard climbing the hill with her friends for the ceremony. In casual conversation after the formal introduction, Butterfly admits her age — fifteen — and explains that her family was once prominent but lost its position. Cio-Cio-San, consequently, has had to earn her living as a geisha. Her relatives arrive and chatter about the marriage. Cio-Cio-San shows Pinkerton her few possessions and quietly tells him she has been to the Christian mission and will embrace her husband’s religion. The Imperial Commissioner reads the marriage agreement, and the relatives congratulate the couple. Suddenly, a threatening voice is heard from afar — it is the Bonze, Butterfly’s uncle, a priest. He curses the girl for going to the Christian mission and rejecting her ancestral religion. Pinkerton orders the Bonze and the guests away, and the shocked relatives denounce her as they leave. He tries to console Butterfly with sweet words. She is helped by Suzuki into her wedding kimono and joins Pinkerton in the garden, where they anticipate the night ahead of them (“Vieni la sera”).

ACT II

PART I.

Three years have passed, and Cio-Cio-San is still waiting for her husband’s return. Suzuki prays to the gods for help, but Butterfly berates her for believing in lazy Japanese gods rather than in Pinkerton’s promise to return one day (“Un bel di”). Sharpless appears with a letter from Pinkerton, but before he can read it to Butterfly, Goro arrives with the latest potential husband for Butterfly, the wealthy Prince Yamadori. Butterfly politely serves the guests tea but insists she is not available for marriage — her American husband has not deserted her. She dismisses Goro and Yamadori. Sharpless attempts to read Pinkerton’s letter and warns that the officer may never return; perhaps, he suggests, she should reconsider Yamadori’s offer. “And this?” asks the outraged Butterfly (“E questo?”), presenting her small child to the consul. Sharpless, too upset to tell her more of the letter’s contents, leaves, promising to tell Pinkerton of the child. A cannon shot is heard in the harbor, announcing the arrival of a ship. Butterfly and Suzuki take a telescope to the terrace and read the name of Pinkerton’s ship. Overjoyed, Butterfly joins Suzuki in strewing the house with flower petals from the garden (“Scuoti della fronda”). Night falls, and Butterfly, Suzuki, and the child settle into a vigil over the harbor (Humming Chorus).

PART II.

Dawn breaks, and Suzuki insists that Butterfly get some sleep. Butterfly carries the child into another room. Sharpless appears with Pinkerton and Kate — Pinkerton’s new wife. Suzuki realizes who the American woman is and agrees to help break the news to Butterfly. Pinkerton is overcome with guilt and runs from the scene, pausing to remember his days in the little house (“Addio fiorito asil”). Cio-Cio-San rushes in hoping to find Pinkerton but sees Kate instead. Grasping the situation, she agrees to give up the child but insists Pinkerton return for him. Dismissing everyone, Butterfly takes out the dagger with which her father had committed suicide, choosing, like him, to die with honor rather than live in shame. She is interrupted momentarily when the child comes in, but Butterfly says goodbye and blindfolds him (“Tu, piccolo Iddio”). She stabs herself as Pinkerton calls her name.

Tragedians, Comedians, Lyric Poets and Empty-Heads are arguing over what performance they wish to see today. Some insist on a tragedy, others want a comedy. The Ridiculous People appear. They call for the audience to be silent and they begin their narrative.

The King of Clubs is in despair. His son the Crown Prince is dying of hypochondria. The doctors declare the case hopeless, but the King recalls the miraculous power of laughter. Pantaloon, the King´s confidant, calls Truffaldino for help, and the King orders him to organise entertainments for the court.

The fate of the Prince and the ambitious Prime Minister Leandro is being played out in a game of cards. The Wizard Celio, who is trying to restore peace and harmony to the world, is playing against Fata Morgana, a ruthless and jealous witch who seeks the Prince´s death and who is protecting Leandro and the King´s scheming niece Clarissa.

Clarissa dreams of ascending the throne and marrying Leandro. But to do this she must first take care of the Prince, and Clarissa presents Leandro with an ultimatum: "Give the Prince either opium or a bullet". The slave Smeraldina overhears and tells Clarissa and Leandro that Fata Morgana is on their side.

With immense effort Truffaldino makes the Prince get out of his cosy bed and come to the festivities organised specially for him.

The performance is a disaster and the Prince falls into hopeless despondency. But the unexpected appearance of Fata Morgana draws his attention. She goes straight to the Prince, and Truffaldino, attempting to stop her, trips her up. Fata Morgana falls down and her ungainly pose makes the Prince laugh. The furious witch curses the Prince: he will have no peace and will fall in love with three oranges. Immediately the Prince is seized with the desire to depart and find the oranges. Truffaldino is ready to go with him.

During their quest to find Creonte´s castle and the three cherished oranges, the Prince and Truffaldino find themselves in a desert. Farfarello, disguised as the wind, blows them onwards, hastening them towards the dangers that await them at Creonte´s castle. The Wizard Celio tries to help him and frightens the Prince and Truffaldino with their forthcoming trials. But the Prince is resolute. Celio then gives Truffaldino a magic ribbon and warns that the oranges may be peeled only when water is close by.

The Prince and Truffaldino arrive at Creonte´s castle at last. Almost overcome with fear, the wanderers enter Creonte´s kitchen. Their path is barred by a terrifying cook. Truffaldino catches his attention with the magic ribbon while the Prince steals the three oranges.

The Prince and Truffaldino wander exhausted across the boiling desert – the oranges have grown in size and weight. The Prince falls asleep and Truffaldino decides to quench his thirst with orange juice. Instead of juice, the orange reveals a Princess who begs for water. In despair and wishing to save her, Truffaldino peels the second orange. But it contains a second Princess who also wants water. Both Princesses die before the distraught Truffaldino. Driven mad by his helplessness, Truffaldino has but one option: to run away.

The Prince awakes. He cannot wait to see what is hidden inside the last orange. Yet another Princess appears. She declares her love for the Prince and says that she awaits salvation. Like the other Princesses, Ninetta begs for water. The Ridiculous People come to help: with them they bring a pail of water. Ninetta is saved. The Prince heads for the palace to inform the King of his impending marriage. Meanwhile Smeraldina, using a magic pin given by Fata Morgana, turns the Princess into a rat and takes Ninetta´s place.

The Wizard Celio and Fata Morgana are in a heated quarrel about the fate of our heroes. Once again the Ridiculous People come to the rescue. They succeed in disposing of the witch. Now the Wizard Celio can rescue the bride and groom.

In the throne room of the royal palace all is ready for the Prince´s wedding. Suddenly the courtiers notice a huge rat. Celio removes the curse and the rat turns back into Princess Ninetta. Clarissa, Leandro and Smeraldina´s treachery is exposed. The King orders the execution of the conspirators. They attempt to flee and are aided by Fata Morgana, who has taken refuge in the netherworld. The King and the courtiers honour the delighted Prince and Princess as newlyweds.