MID Wales Opera is bringing Puccini’s much-loved opera Madam Butterfly to Ludlow, with a production that has been receiving excellent reviews, including Pick of the Week in The Guardian and Sunday Times.

Though far from a success when first performed in 1904, Madam Butterfly has gone on to become one of the most frequently performed operas in the repertoire.

Its combination of Oriental themes, tragic storyline and sumptuous music – including ‘the stupendous soprano aria One Fine Day and the sublime Humming chorus – gives it a power rarely matched on the operatic stage.

Madam Butterfly will be conducted by MWO’s new musical director Nicholas Cleobury for his second production with the company following last season’s Falstaff.

Helping him achieve the different challenges presented by Madam Butterfly will be the experienced ensemble of the Mid Wales Opera Chamber Orchestra under its leader Simon Chalk and an exceptional cast of singers, two of whom will be competing in the Cardiff Singer of the World competition this summer.

Meeta Raval, who already holds the Dame Eva Turner Prize for “a soprano with dramatic potential”, is the English entry for Singer of the World and will share the role of Butterfly with Stephanie Corley, who studied at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

Pinkerton, the American officer who abandons Butterfly to return home, will be played by Sean Ruane, who The Independent said has a “voice of passion and beauty that locates him slap bang on the Three Tenors’ plane”.

Pinkerton will be covered on tour for the Company by John Pierce, Welsh Singer of the Year in 2010, who will also be representing his country in Cardiff this June.

This exciting young Welsh Tenor relishes the opportunity to sing this major role at this stage in an already promising career.

The company is pleased to announce that the Fenton Trust will be supporting John’s engagement with the company as part of its policy of encouraging young singers to develop their talent.

Returning to Mid Wales Opera to sing the role of Sharpless is favourite Welsh Baritone Wyn Pencarreg, who in the past few years has brought character to various “villains” for MWO in The Tales of Hoffmann, Figaro and as Ford in last year’s Falstaff. Finally, he gets to play a good guy with a finely judged style that is just right for Mid Wales Opera’s informal approach.

Madam Butterfly is at Ludlow Assembly Rooms on Friday and Saturday, November 11 and 12, at 7.30pm.

To book, call the box office on 01584 878141 or go to ludlowassemblyrooms.co.uk.