The Washington National Opera’s production of “Madama Butterfly” at the Kennedy Center is proof of Giacomo Puccini’s mastery of the very essence of opera, a seamless meshing of music and theater. The success of the production depends on many factors: the lush music; the vibrant Washington National Opera Orchestra and an outstanding cast. None of these elements alone could create the profound effect of this “Butterfly” without the guidance of director Ron Daniels and his designers, who provide a home for this story of a beautiful 15-year-old geisha who falls in love with a callous American naval officer in late-19th-century Nagasaki.

As Cio-Cio-San, Catherine Naglestad brilliantly captures the paradox of Puccini’s heroine. Seemingly delicate, she develops through the opera to become the epitome of strength and authority. Naglestad performs from the beginning of the first act, and her voice remains clear and controlled throughout.