Originally published on metropolis.co.jp on January 2014

Puccini’s 1904 opera and the short story it was based on tells the tale of an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride. Although their love was ill-fated, better things are sure to come from the thoroughly international collaboration behind the production as part of the new opera season at the New National Theatre in Hatsudai. Tamiya Kuriyama directs while Canadian conductor Keri-Lynn Wilson takes the baton. Greek soprano Alexia Voulgaridou takes the title role and Bolshoi Opera tenor Mikhail Agafonov plays Pinkerton, with the rest of the roles filled out by Japanese operatic talent.

Jan 30 & Feb 5, 7pm; Feb 2 & 8, 2pm, ¥3,150-21,000. New National Theatre Tokyo. Nearest stn: Hatsudai. Tel: 03-5352-9999. www.nntt.jac.go.jp