One of the joys of opera is watching a performance of an old classic which renews your love for the piece, heightens both the memory and senses while at the same time offering new discoveries. This cinema broadcast will do exactly that for you.

Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier’s direction and Christian Fenouillat’s design support the production with a degree of adequacy. Everything is stripped back to a sort of Japanese minimalism, but with Mathew Woodward’s cinema screen direction, our attention is focused on the human story. A roller coaster of emotions bursts from the screen and grabs your attention, supported by outstanding singing and conducting.

^{Ermonela Jaho and Marcelo Puente in Royal Opera House’s Madama Butterfly. Photos © Bill Cooper}

The Albanian soprano Ermonela Jaho has already established herself as a fine Puccini interpreter. Her recent Covent Garden performance in Suor Angelica was a triumph, so expectations were high. She did not disappoint.

Despite its Japanese setting and Puccini’s use of Japanese folk songs, this is essentially an Italian opera. The costumes have an authentic look to them but camera close-ups cannot hide the European...