Madam Butterfly: gorgeous pictures of the production set in a Japanese water garden

1. Madam Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall

David Freeman's production of Puccini's Madam Butterfly has returned to the Royal Albert Hall this spring. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

2. Japanese Water Garden

The production, designed by David Roger, is built around a spectacular Japanese water garden. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

3. Cio-Cio-San

The title role of Butterfly, also known as Cio-Cio-San, is being shared in this production between Nam-young Kim, Hyeseoung Kwon (pictured here) and Myung-Joo Lee. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

4. A beautiful wedding

The opera begins with the wedding of Butterfly to an American lieutenant, G. F. Pinkerton, here played by tenor Jeffrey Gwaltney. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

5. A challenging soprano role

The music that Puccini wrote for the soprano role of Butterfly is some of the most difficult music in the operatic repertoire. Here, soprano Hyeseound Kwon is pictured with tenor Jeffrey Gwaltney. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

6. A sham ceremony

While Butterfly is fully invested in her marriage to Pinkerton, the American has no intention of staying with Butterfly, seeing the ceremony as just a quaint tradition. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

7. A warning from Sharpless

The American consul, Sharpless (played here by David Kempster), warns Pinkerton that Butterfly might view the marriage more seriously than he does, but Pinkerton dismisses his concerns. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

8. A geisha

Cio-Cio-San explains to Pinkerton that her family were once important but have since fallen on hard times. Now, she explains, she has to make her living as a geisha. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

9. Butterfly's family arrive

Madam Butterfly's friends and family arrive for the ceremony. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

10. A Christian convert

Cio-Cio-San tells Pinkerton that she has converted to Christianity and will embrace her husband's religion. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

11. Pinkerton's philosophy

Pinkerton sings of his philosophy of life – to roam the world in search of experiences and pleasure. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

12. The Bonze

Butterfly's uncle, a priest called the Bonze (played here by Michael Druiett), arrives and curses Butterfly for turning to Christianity. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

13. Atmospheric lighting

The lighting for this iconic production has been designed by Andrew Bridge. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

14. 20th century setting

Puccini's opera is set in Japan in the early 20th century and was first performed in Milan in 1904. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

15. A stunning production

For David Freeman's eye-catching production, the arena of the Royal Albert Hall is flooded with water. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

16. From Madam Butterfly to Miss Saigon

Puccini's opera inspired the popular musical Miss Saigon, written by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boubil. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

17. Wedding night

After the ceremony, Pinkerton leads Butterfly out into the garden, where they spend their wedding night. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

18. Butterfly and Pinkerton

Soprano Hyeseoung Kwon and tenor Jeffrey Gwaltney as Cio-Cio-San (Butterfly) and Pinkerton. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

19. Heart-breaking beauty

Few operas are as romantic, or as heart-breaking as Puccini's Madam Butterfly. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

20. Three years later…

The Second Act of the opera opens three years later. Pinkerton has gone and Butterfly now has a son. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

21. One fine day

In one of the opera's most famous arias, Butterfly sings of her certainty that Pinkerton will return 'one fine day'. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

22. Pinkerton's return

Butterfly and her maid, Suzuki, see Pinkerton's ship arriving into the harbour. They strew the house with petals to prepare for his arrival. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

23. Mrs Pinkerton

Pinkerton arrives – with his American wife, played in this production by Lise Christensen. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

24. Suzuki breaks the news

As Suzuki breaks the bad news to Butterfly, David Roger's set takes on a very different character from its earlier shimmering beauty. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

25. Butterfly's son

Understanding that she has been abandoned, Butterfly agrees to give up her son. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

26. Cio-Cio-San decides

Cio-Cio-San, here played by Hyeseoung Kwon, has spent the whole opera waiting. In the final scene, she takes her fate into her own hands… Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

27. Puccini's tragedy

Butterfly blindfolds her son and gives him an American flag to wave to greet his father. Then she stabs herself as Pinkerton can be heard calling her name off-stage. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd

28. The final moments

Here, the final moments of Puccini's beautiful opera can be seen in David Freeman's unique in-the-round production. Credit: Paul Sanders/Royal Albert Hall/Raymond Gubbay Ltd