Artiste: Luciano Mastro

Jiři Herman’s staging is authentically Japanese and focuses on the deliberate injustice of Butterfly's treatment, with strong performances in the lead roles.

Is it opera, or operetta? Actually, Pucciniʼs La rondine looked more like 1930s Hollywood - men in tuxes, women in glamorous gowns, socialites with endless leisure time, people who barely know each other falling passionately in love – the only thing missing was Greta Garbo.

This gem from Martinů received a bright, spirited performance at the Estates Theatre in Prague – putting an early gleam on what should be an interesting year celebrating Czech music.