Undoubtedly one of Puccini’s finest works, Madama Butterfly is the story of a callous US Navy Lieutenant who marries and abandons a Japanese girl, Cio-Cio San, or, Madama Butterfly. She however, remains faithful to him and for three long years, awaits his return. When he discovers that she had borne him a son he returns to Japan with his wife to claim the child, thus prompting the broken-hearted Butterfly to kill herself. Puccini’s score is one of great emotional melody and the story as compelling as it is tragic.