Puccini: Madama Butterfly (complete opera recorded in 2009)

"Puccini's Madama Butterfly had a new production for the English National Opera and the Lithuanian National Opera, produced by Anthony Minghella with sets by Michael Levine, and Carolyn Choa as director and choreographer. Met General Manager Peter Gelb chose this to open his first season in the position, September 25, 2006, a festive opening night spectacle telecast outside on Lincoln Center Plaza and Times Square, with intense TV coverage. Soprano Christina Gallardo-Domas sang the title role, with Marcello Giordani as Pinkerton, James Levine on the podium. Butterfly returned to the Met in 2009 and we have this video of the March 7, 2009 performance, featuring Patricia Racette as the ill-rated geisha, Giordani repeating his Pinkerton, and Patrick Summers replacing Levine. No one could fault any of the singing in this large-scale production which is often stunningly beautiful, particularly the first act ending. Sets and props are minimal-effects are achieved primarily through color. The child Trouble is played by a Bunraku puppet manipulated by three black-garbed men. For me, this simply doesn't work, in spite of the puppeteers' expertise. You may not object to it, and if you can accept this you'll derive much pleasure from this imaginative, well-sung production. Video and audio are perfect."
(ClassicalCdReview)

"Patricia Racette is clearly the star of the show, becoming such a convincing Cio-Cio-San in the way she exudes the teenaged geisha's innocence, submissiveness and all-consuming naïve love for Pinkerton. By opera's end, you're nearly breathless and sweating from the pain Racette conveys in her character's tragic fate." ClassicalNet