Puccini's Madama Butterfly: a beginner's guide

1. Lieutenant Pinkerton

The curtain rises in Nagasaki, Japan, as we meet Lieutenant Benjamin Franklin Pinkerton of the United States Navy. He's just bought a house on a 999 year lease, and has paid for the right to be married to a young geisha girl called Cio-Cio-San. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

2. Butterfly arrives

Cio-Cio-San, otherwise known as Madam Butterfly, arrives with her friends to meet Pinkerton. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

3. A warning from Sharpless

As Pinkerton inspects the house and the wedding preparations are underway, Sharpless, the US consul explains his concerns about the impending marriage. While Pinkerton isn't taking it seriously at all, the young geisha is hopelessly in love with him. Sharpless is concerned Pinkerton will crush Butterfly. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

4. Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton

The young, naive Cio-Cio-San charms Pinkerton with her manners and obedience. She's unaware her husband-to-be is reveling in the quaintness of the Japanese marriage contract, which dissolves after a month if the husband leaves his wife. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

5. Living as a geisha

Cio-Cio San reveals a bit more about her background to Pinkerton. She's been earning a living as a geisha after her father committed suicide, on the orders of the emperor. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

6. The wedding

The remaining wedding guests and officials arrive, witnessing the small-scale wedding ceremony. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

7. Denounced by Bonze

In order to marry the American general, Cio-Cio San renounces her roots and converts to Christianity. The high priest, Bonze, arrives to interrupt the ceremony, denouncing the young bride. Her friends and family turn against her. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

8. Cio-Cio-San and Pinkerton are alone

After being abandoned by everyone she knows, Cio-Cio San is left alone to start her marriage with her new husband, a man she barely knows. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

9. A romantic scene

Suzuki, Cio-Cio San's faithful servant, prepares her for her wedding night. Pinkerton reassures his wife that he'll support her, and she revels in his love. The stars come out, and the couple are left alone as the curtain falls at the end of the first act. Photo: ENO/ Clive Barda

10. Suzuki comforts Butterfly

Three years have passed and Pinkerton has vanished, leaving his wife desperate, poverty-stricken, and unwelcome in the community. Suzuki tries to make Cio-Cio San understand Pinkerton will never return. Photo: ENO/ Clive Barda

11. Prince Yamadori visits

American consul Sharpless returns, but is interrupted by Prince Yamadori, Cio-Cio-San's wealthy suitor. He argues she should marry him because she is divorced under Japanese law, now her husband has left, but she refuses. Japanese law, she protests, doesn't apply to her because she's now an American woman. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

12. Pinkerton's son

Once Cio-Cio-San sends the prince on his way, Sharpless continues to read the letter from Pinkerton, which reveals he's returning to Nagasaki... with a new wife. Unfortunately, Cio-Cio-San isn't listening, and Sharpless can't bring himself to deliver the full message. Instead, he hints she should take the up the offer of marriage from the prince. Cio-Cio-San, overcome, reveals she has a son by Pinkerton, in the hope he'll return once he hears the news. Photo: ENO/ Clive Barda

13. Pinkerton returns

Sharpless is at a loss, and leaves the women and the young boy. Cio-Cio-San hears the gunshot from a US Navy ship, which can only mean one thing: Pinkerton has returned at last! Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

14. Butterfly prepares the house

Convinced her husband has returned to live with her and her young son, Cio-Cio-San prepares the house for his arrival. Photo: ENO/ Clive Barda

15. No sign of Pinkerton

Cio-Cio-San stays up all night, but there's still no sign of Pinkerton. Sharpless arrives in the hope of finding Suzuki alone: she's the only one who can break the news to Cio-Cio-San that Pinkerton isn't coming back. What's more, he and his new wife want to adopt Pinkerton's son and take him back with them. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

16. Butterfly learns the truth

Realising Cio-Cio-San has changed into her finest clothes and prepared the house for his arrival, Pinkerton realises the extent of her devotion. He's horrified and ashamed, and leaves Sharpless and Kate to face Suzuki. Cio-Cio-San bursts in, and is finally confronted with the truth. She picks up her father's knife and kisses the blade. Photo: ENO/Clive Barda

17. A tragic end

Cio-Cio-San agrees to give up her child on condition that Pinkerton comes in person to fetch him. She gives her son an American flag to wave as his father arrives, blindfolds him, and bids him farewell. She plunges the knife into her chest, kisses her son, and dies. Photo: ENO/ Clive Barda