This evening, Erika Grimaldi returns to the Auckland Philharmonia to star as Cio-Cio-San in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, under the baton of Giordano Bellincampi.

The Italian soprano returns to New Zealand following her highly acclaimed portrayal of Leonora in with the Auckland Philharmonia in 2022. Tonight also marks just her second appearance as Cio-Cio-San, following her acclaimed role debut last summer at Santiago’s Teatro Municipal. For those performances, she was awarded the prestigious 2025 Premio del Círculo de Críticos de Arte de Chile, recognizing her outstanding interpretation of Puccini’s tragic heroine.