Opera on 3 - Live from the Met - Puccini's Madama Butterfly

From the Metropolitan Opera, New York, Patrick Summers conducts Anthony Minghella's celebrated production of Puccini's opera, with soprano Patricia Racette and tenor Marcello Giordani in the leading roles. One one the most popular operas ever written, it is set in Nagasaki at the beginning of the 20th Century where a geisha named Cio-Cio San, known as 'Butterfly' to her friends, marries US Navy officer Pinkerton, who is stationed in Japan. He considers the union temporary, but Butterfly is clearly not under the same impression as she renounces her family and religion for the marriage. Presented by Margaret Juntwait with guest commentator Ira Siff. The intervals include backstage interviews and the Met Opera Quiz. Cio-Cio-San (Madam Butterfly) ...... Patricia Racette (soprano) Pinkerton ...... Marcello Giordani (tenor) Suzuki ...... Maria Zifchak (mezzo-soprano) Sharpless ...... Dwayne Croft (baritone) Kate Pinkerton ...... Edyta Kulczak Orchestra and Chorus of Metropolitan Opera Patrick Summers (conductor).