According to the Associated Press, the music from major operas such as "Madame Butterfly" is primarily known among Greek audiences through the recorded performances of Maria Callas, a renowned Greek artist who passed away in 1977 and continues to be revered in Greece.
The tragic tale of the young geisha Cio-Cio-San in Puccini's classic opera has become a beloved favorite among theatergoers in Athens, where performances are held at the ancient Odeon of Herodes Atticus theater.
To kick off the main summer theater and arts festival, which this year is dedicated to Callas and the centenary of her birth, an open-air performance of "Madame Butterfly" was held at the theater on Thursday.
The Athens-Epidaurus Festival, which also includes concerts and plays at the UNESCO world heritage site of Epidaurus, has curated its program to complement the centenary celebrations.