Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Royal Opera House, 2017, Directed by: Leiser)

In Britain, this production was acclaimed as the best Puccini seen in London in years—and that is saying something. After all, as chief conductor of the Royal Opera House, Sir Antonio Pappano has always been a passionate champion of Giacomo Puccini’s music and has made London a mecca for Puccini lovers. In this production by Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier, however, staging, direction and musical quality came together particularly effectively. The production indeed manages the difficult balancing act between tradition and contemporary demands, and the vocal roles are cast ideally. Ermonela Jaho caused a sensation in the opera world with her portrayal of Cio-Cio-San and has been regarded as one of the finest interpreters of the popular role since she appeared in this production. Antonio Pappano, meanwhile, once again lives up to his reputation as an outstanding Puccini conductor and confirms his status as one of the leading opera conductors of his generation.