Madama Butterfly

Recorded live from the Royal Opera House.
Puccini’s heart-breaking opera, including the famous second act aria, Un bel dì vedremo (One fine day) and The Humming Chorus, is brought to life in Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s exquisite production taking inspiration from 19th-century European images of Japan.

Cio-Cio-San, the young Japanese bride of American naval officer Lieutenant Pinkerton, finds her romantic idyll shattered when he deserts her shortly after their marriage. She lives in hope that one day he will return. Three years later, Cio-Cio-San and her son, Dolore, see Pinkerton’s ship in the harbour. She excitedly awaits his visit – but when Pinkerton and his American wife Kate arrive and learn about Dolore’s existence, they ask to take the boy away, and raise him in America. Cio-Cio-San bids her son farewell and takes her own life.

Asmik Grigorian and Joshua Guerrero lead a fabulous cast, chorus and orchestra in one of the greatest operas of all time.

★★★★★ Express
★★★★ The Independent

Music: Giacomo Puccini (1858 -1924)
Libretto: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica

Directors: Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier
Conductor: Kevin John Edusei
Orchestra of the Royal Opera House
Cast: Asmik Grigorian & Hrachuhí Bassénz (Cio-Cio-San), Joshua Guerrero (Lieutenant Pinkerton) Lauri Vasar (Sharpless)

Tickets: Adult £24 Adult concessions £22 18 & under £14
Running time: 165 mins (inc one interval)
Doors open: 1.30pm
BBFC rating: TBC