Madama Butterfly is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. The opera is based in part on the short story "Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Luther Long. Long's version was dramatized by David Belasco as a one-act play, Madame Butterfly: A Tragedy of Japan, which, after premiering in New York in 1900, moved on to London, where Puccini saw it in the summer of that year.

The original version of the opera, in two acts, had its premiere on February 17, 1904 at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. It was poorly received, despite such notable singers as soprano Rosina Storchio, tenor Giovanni Zenatello and baritone Giuseppe De Luca in its lead roles; this was due in part to a late completion by Puccini, and thus inadequate time for rehearsals. Puccini revised the opera, splitting act 2 into two (with the Humming Chorus as a bridge to what became act 3) and making other changes. Success ensued, starting with the first performance, on May 28, 1904 in Brescia.

Cast:

Butterfly – Renata Butterfly

Pinkerton – Giuseppe Campora

Conductor – Alberto Erede

Recorded 1951