Puccini’s Madama Butterfly is one of the opera cannon’s most beloved and often performed works telling the heart-rending story of the young Japanese girl who falls in love with an American naval officer and marries him. Giving up everything, she bears his son and patiently waits for his return with tragic consequences.

Michael Grandage’s acclaimed production was created for Houston Grand Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and Grand Théâtre de Genève. This is its first appearance in Australia for Opera Queensland and it bears all the hallmarks of grand, classical operatic design, sparse and simple, offering a traditional production strong on the narrative with its unfolding outcomes. The impressive set design by Christopher Oram, who also produced some glorious costumes, consisted of a sweeping raked wooden walkway flanked by Japanese gold lacquered panels representing both the outside world and the entry into Cio-Cio-San’s house. There was an effective sliding panel to create the interior space and a few chairs and stools, nothing else.

Some tree silhouettes on the backcloth and branches of cherry blossom trees suspended above the house, alongside exquisite lighting by Philip Alfano, demonstrated the changing seasons and time...