When the current production of Madama Butterfly was new in 2003, it was criticised for its surfeit of cherry blossom and picture-postcard representation of Nagasaki.

Orientalist stereotype is of course inherent in the work itself, but directors Moshe Leiser and Patrice Caurier surely have an ironic intention, which comes across more clearly in this third revival directed by Stephen Barlow.

In Act 1 the hillside is dripping with cherry blossom like a layer of candy floss, but in Acts 2 and 3 the japonaiserie is virtually absent, giving way to starkly minimalist panelled walls, a modish but sombre variation on the traditional sliding doors.

The Chinese-Canadian soprano Liping Zhang returns to the role of Cio-Cio-San, bringing to it a winning combination of creamy tone and touching fragility.

Standing in at short notice for Andrew Richards was the Slovakian tenor Miroslav Dvorsky, who made an impressive Royal Opera début as Pinkerton with his firm, ardent tone and genuine remorse at the havoc he had wreaked.

Alan Opie's sympathetic Sharpless provides an admirable foil for the American lieutenant's repugnant behaviour.

Conductor Nicola Luisotti brought flowing Italianate grace and throbbing passion to the score, with harshly spotlit brass pointing up its indictment of imperialist aggression.