Known today as one of Puccini's greatest works, Madama Butterfly wasn't always so popular among audiences. It had to endure a poorly received premiere at La Scala in 1904 (significant levels of actual booing were observed) only to be reworked, rewritten, and slightly reformulated by the author so that it could then go on to vindicate its huge success. The story itself—of a geisha grappling against the dark forces of cultural and sexual imperialism—is as melodramatic as they come, and the trademark lyric beauty of the piece is enough to leave a lasting impression, even if you have a stone cold heart. This performance of the classic opera will take place at Plac Defilad in the centre of Warsaw. It will include musical performances by the world-renowned Sinfonia Varsovia orchestra, the Polish National Philharmonic and Italian maestro Marcello Mottadelli.