Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Asmik Grigorian (DVD)

When the young Japanese geisha Cio-Cio-San marries the American naval officer Pinkerton, she believes she is entering into a marriage for life. Abandoning her religion and her community, she dreams of a future with her new husband, only to learn that marriage for Pinkerton is just an illusion - one with tragic consequences. With its exquisite score, Giacomo Puccini's poignant opera from 1904 is as moving as it is harrowing. Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier's 2024 production for the Royal Opera House, inspired by 19th century European images of Japan, features Asmik Grigorian in the title role, conducted by Kevin John Edusei.