Madame Butterfly

This straightforward adaptation lets Puccini's wildly passionate music speak for itself -- and, for once, an Asian sings the title role. Yin Huang, as the hapless geisha Cio-Cio-San, is an expressive soprano with the looks and acting ability to withstand tight close-ups; Richard Troxell is a sturdy Pinkerton. Director Frederic Mitterrand (son of the former French president) acknowledges the opera's racial subtext without flogging it to death. All in all, it's a rewarding musical and visual experience, especially for opera lovers who can't afford those insanely expensive seats at the Met.