Download the Audio of  Madame Butterfly

During a visit to London, Puccini witnessed a performance of the little play, "Madam Butterfly," an adaptation by David Belasco of the magazine story so entitled by John Luther Long. That gifted artist, Miss Evelyn Millard, enacted the part of the heroine with rare feeling, and the composer was charmed and touched by her performance, though he knew no English. 

Returning to Italy, he commissioned Messrs. Illica and Giacosa to write a libretto on the subject. In order to provide fuller scope for Puccini, the librettists placed a new Act in front of the English drama.

Besides affording, by its prevailing brightness, a fine contrast to the pathos of the second part, this addition enabled the listener to obtain a better knowledge of the circumstances leading up to the tragedy of the last scene.

[source:ebeijing.gov.cn]