As Butterfly, Raina Kabaivanska proves that this role may be one of her finest achievements. Her voice, with its underlying steeliness, remains a lyrical instrument capable of a rare feat: portraying a Cio-Cio San who genuinely sounds like a young girl while effortlessly handling the role's demanding spinto outbursts.

The only other standout in the cast is Bruno Prevedi, who delivers a brash and swaggering Pinkerton.