The superior cast of this production is dominated by Raffaella Angeletti in the title role, ‘certainly one of the best Butterflies of our time’ (ForumOpera.com), who has performed this role in many Italian theaters, as well as in Madrid and at the Vienna Staatsoper. As Pinkerton, Massimo Pisapia is ‘brilliant, bold and trim’ (L’Opinione) and Annunziata Vestri’s Suzuki ‘outstanding’ (Rinascita). The performance took place in the magnificent open-air neo-classical Arena Sferisterio built in the 1820s. Though unjustly garnering less international attention than other outdoor summer festivals such as Verona and Aix, the Sferisterio Opera Festival has become a true gem whose performances are enthusiastically acclaimed by audiences of genuine opera lovers from far and wide.