Christa Ludwig

Japan, early twentieth century. U.S. Navy Lieutenant B.F. Pinkerton inspects the house he has leased from a marriage broker. The broker, Goro, has procured him three servants and a geisha wife, Cio-Cio-San, known as Madama Butterfly. He is enchanted with the fragile Cio-Cio-San. Cio-Cio-San is heard in the distance joyously singing of her wedding. In a quiet moment, Cio-Cio-San shows her bridegroom her few earthly treasures and tells him of her intention...

A heart-rending story about a sweet-natured Japanese girl and the caddish American lieutenant who marries then deserts her.

The first opera in Wagner's Ring cycle, in which the Rhinegold is stolen and made into a ring by the dwarf Alberich, who later curses it when it is taken from him.