The passion and soaring melodies of these two operatic masterpieces

These classic crowdpleasers both enjoy a mix of fierce passion and gorgeous melodies and will be performed at the Devonshire Park Theatre - Madama Butterfly on September 14 and La Traviata on September 15, featuring an impressive cast and accompanied by a large orchestra with over 30 musicians.

Madama Butterfly is the perfect tragic opera, with music by Giacomo Puccini, and will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Set in Japan at the turn of the century, Madama Butterfly is among the most colourful and exotic of all operas, with soaring melodies to grip the heart. It tells the story of a doomed love affair between an American naval officer and his young Japanese bride, whose self-sacrifice and defiance of her family leads to heartbreak and tragedy.

La Traviata has music by one of Giuseppe Verdi - again, it will be sung in Italian with English surtitles.

Verdi brings the beguiling splendour and gaiety of mid-19th century Parisian life to the stage. La Traviata is a courtesan by the name of Violetta whose life is a round of endless parties until a young nobleman, Alfredo Germont, convinces her to live with him in the country. The couple are deeply in love and all is blissful contentment until Alfredo’s father arrives and tells Violetta that the affair is threatening the family’s honour. Desperate to save Alfredo from disgrace, Violetta leaves their rural idyll and returns to Paris.

Producer Alexej Ignatow, of Amande Concerts Ltd, who has co-ordinated the UK tour, said: “We are constantly on the lookout for new challenges, to ensure that our opera and ballet audiences get a chance to experience a wide spectrum of classic pieces.

“With extensive national tours that get our productions seen the length and breadth of the country, we are able to offer national audiences in various theatres an unforgettable experience at a fraction of the price of the major opera houses, all without sacrificing quality.” Information and tickets at www.russian-state-opera.co.uk as well as Devonshire Park Theatre box office.