PUCCINI: Madama Butterfly
The complete opera plus bonus introduction CD
8.660910-12

This set combines an acclaimed complete recording of Puccini's opera Madama Butterfly, starring Miriam Gauci in the title role, with a fascinating companion CD from the Opera Explained series on Naxos Educational. The companion Opera Explained CD introduces, in words and music, the plot and background of Madama Butterfly using the principal themes and arias taken from the complete work. Whether listening to the opera for the first time or discovering more about the history and structure of this masterly work, this is an innovative and easy way to deepen an appreciation of Puccini's genius.

The fate of Madama Butterfly engages our emotions to a degree equalled by few other opera heroines. Pinkerton, an American sailor, deserts his wife, the young Madama Butterfly. He remarries, yet Butterfly remains convinced of his fidelity until she is forced to face his betrayal with tragic consequences. The Oriental setting and the exquisite orchestral and choral writings contribute towards a spell-binding operatic experience.