For the first time in over 100 years, the original Puccini production of "Madama Butterfly" was staged Wednesday at the famous La Scala opera house in Milan. Principal conductor Riccardo Chailly is reviving Puccini's original version of "Madama Butterfly" for the gala season. It was hotly contested at its world premiere 112 years ago. 

Riccardo Chailly called it a "duty" toward Puccini to present the masterpiece as he originally intended it to be experienced, adding that it is a more bitter, more dramatic, more theatrically eloquent version.

He directed the season-opener in front of a packed audience which included elegantly attired notables - including artists and royals. 

'Madama Butterfly' returns to La Scala opera house

The original version of "Madama Butterfly" includes harsher language by F.B. Pinkerton, the U.S. naval officer who takes Butterfly, a 15-year-old Japanese geisha, Cio-Cio San, as his wife despite his clear intentions to return home and marry an American woman

After it was panned in its world debut, Puccini expanded Butterfly from two acts to three, and the amended opera had its debut performance three months later in Brescia, to great success. 

But Chailly notes that Puccini continued to tinker with the score, never settling on a version and thereby scuttling any pretense of a final intention.

The gala season premiere is being broadcast live on RAI state TV's main channel for the first time in decades as part of Pereira's effort to make La Scala more accessible.

Uruguayan soprano Maria Jose Siri is making her debut in the role of Cio-Cio San, singing opposite U.S. tenor Bryan Hymel, who is bringing American swagger to the role of Pinkerton.

Carlos Alvarez, who also sang in last year's gala premiere, returns to La Scala as the U.S. consul Sharpless.