Against an animated backcloth of towering ash trees and a clear, contrailed blue sky darting with soaring swifts and swallows and other avian 'extras', a large audience ensconced in the natural amphitheatre of imposing Lampeter Velfrey House garden could not fail to be enchanted by Friday's thrilling performance of Puccini's Madame Butterfly.

As dusk fell, doves coo-ed and crows croaked off-stage, while bats fledermaused in to snatch the moths fluttering suicidally round the floodlights, further enhancing, rather than distracting from the magical ambience as Brecon-based Opera Box staged this dramatic opera, first performed at La Scala a century ago.

Title role soprano Nancy Yuen, as the tragically deceived Cio-Cio San, and lead tenor Mark Luther, as the despicable Lieutenant Pinkerton (promoted to captain by the costume department), sang and acted their demanding roles with well-matched and masterly vocal and technical skill, admirably supported by Zoe South as Suzuki, Henry Newman as Sharpless, Alan Rankin-Crooks as Goro and director Andrew Gallagher as Bonze.

Five-year-old Dylan Rees of Pembroke Dock, was a hit as Cio-Cio San's aptly-named son Sorrow and the other parts were sung by Aris Naderian, Ian Priestley, Stephanie Crooks, Virginia King, Jennifer Samuel and Gillian Scott.

The Opera Box orchestra were elevated to the verandah, rather than playing in the traditional pit, which would have been difficult since that position was occupied by a limpid lily-pond with lit candles floating on it.

Pimms, canaps and drinks among the floodlit shrubs contributed a civilized dimension to a dazzling al fresco occasion.