Renata Scotto (Cio Cio San), Carlo Bergonzi (Pinkerton), Anna di Stasio (Suzuki), Rolando Panerai (Sharpless) & Silvana Padoan (Kate Pinkerton), Piero De Palma (Goro)

Coro e Orchestra del Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, John Barbirolli

“Madama Butterfly is Puccini’s greatest opera and my favourite,” wrote the great Italian soprano Renata Scotto in her autobiography. Though her repertoire ranged wide, Cio Cio San was perhaps Scotto’s signature role and she said that “Every time I sing Butterfly I feel I am reaching out and talking to each member of the audience personally.” With Sir John Barbirolli as her passionate conductor, and Carlo Bergonzi as an irresistibly stylish Pinkerton, Scotto movingly captures both the fragility and strength of the tragic young heroine.