Opens Monday 16 May at 7.30pm at London Coliseum for 17 performances

Described by The Times as ‘one of the most deeply thoughtful and ravishingly beautiful re-creations of Puccini’s opera that you’re ever likely to see’ Anthony Minghella’s stunning production of Madam Butterfly returns to ENO for its sixth revival.

This is the first and only opera directed by the late Anthony Minghella and his wife Carolyn Choa, who assisted him as choreographer and associate director. Best known for his work in film, Minghella won an Oscar for his film The English Patient and a BAFTA for The Talented Mr Ripley.

Madam Butterfly is one of opera’s most enduring tales of unrequited love. With its breathtaking mix of cinematic images, traditional Japanese theatre, colourful costumes and stunning sets, Anthony Minghella’s Oliver Award-winning production has been hailed as’ The most beautiful show of the year’ (Sunday Telegraph).

The original creative team consists of set designer Michael Levine, award-winning lighting designer Peter Mumford and fashion designer Han Feng, whose costumes for the opera launched Feng’s career in costume design.

Acclaimed British conductor Sir Richard Armstrong conducts his first Puccini opera for ENO. Formerly Music Director of Welsh National Opera and Scottish Opera, his recent appearances at the London Coliseum include five star productions of both The Passenger (2011) and The Makropulos Case (2010) and the revival of Calixto Bieito’s Carmen (2015).

Soprano Rena Harms returns to ENO to make her role debut as Cio-Cio San. She previously performed the role of Amelia in Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production of Simon Boccanegra for the Company in 2011.

British tenor David Butt Philip makes his role debut as F.B. Pinkerton. He was last seen at ENO as Rodolfo in Jonathan Miller’s production of La bohème in 2014, with The Guardian commenting on his performance that he was ‘a Rodolfo to treasure’.

ENO Harewood Artists Matthew Durkan and Samantha Price make their debuts in the roles of Prince Yamadori and Kate Pinkerton respectively.

Reprising their roles are Harewood Artist George von Bergen as Sharpless, Pamela Helen Stephen as Suzuki, Alan Rhys Jenkins as Goro and Mark Richardson as The Bonze