PORTLAND — PORTopera will present Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly,” starring Metropolitan Opera singer Inna Los as Cio-Cio San, in late July at Merrill Auditorium. 

Three other Metropolitan Opera vocalists — tenor Adam Diegel, mezzo soprano Heather Johnsonk and baritone Edward Parks — will support Los in leading roles.

PORTopera presents Puccini’s heart-breaking tale, and one of the world’s most popular operas in two performances at 7:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 25 and Friday, July 27.

“Madama Butterfly” takes place in early 20th century Japan, where indulgent, carefree U.S. Navy Lieutenant Pinkerton casually marries naive geisha Cio-Cio San with hopes of marrying a “real” American wife once he returns to the U.S. His consul, Sharpless, warns that she may not take her vows so lightly, but Pinkerton ignores him. He and Cio-Cio San savor their love until he leaves for the U.S. and deserts her for three years. Despite pleas from Sharpless and her maid Suzuki, Cio-Cio San remains tirelessly and desperately devoted to her absent husband, assured that he will one day return. A heartbreaking tale of loss of innocence and abandonment, Puccini’s most famous opera is sung in Italian with English supertitles.

Tickets for “Madama Butterfly” range from $41 to $105 and are available online through porttix.com or in person at the PortTIX box office, 20 Myrtle St., Portland, noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For more information, visit www.portopera.org.