I really don't know.  As I've got older I have gone off Puccini generally (apart from Turandot), but, to be honest, I've never liked Butterfly - I always found it a bit dulland rather padded with self-conscious "atmosphere".

And it's not an aversion to verismo per se - give me Mefistofele or Andrea Chenier in preference to almost any Puccini any day!

1975 sounds right to me, Martle, 2nd October 1975 in my case at the New Theatre, Oxford once it had gone on the road. Full cast list available on request if you would like it <anorak emoticon>.

Just chipping in too.

My first opera was Siegfried at ENO with Rita Hunter, Alberto Remedios and Norman Bailey.  I think Charles Mackerras was conducting.  I was 17 and was prompted to go by studying Eliot's The Wasteland for A level English.  Possibly not the standard choice, but I was hooked and have never looked back.  My second opera came soon afterwards: Parsifal at Covent Garden, conducted by Solti with Hoffman, Minton and Kurt Moll as Gurnemanz.

As my first ever concert at about the age of 7 or 8 was Bach's Mass in B Minor, conducted by Giulini and with Janet Baker singing the alto solos, I sometimes get the feeling that my introductions to music and opera were neither representative nor necessarily to be recommended for others.  It worked for me though.

As far as I can remember my first live opera experience was Cosi, ROH when I was about 12. It was actually a dress rehearsal and Friends of Covent Garden got reduced price tickets. My ma worked in the theatre and somehow managed to get us in. Gosh, that`s just reminded me, I remember seeing Lynn Seymour under similar circumstances. Ballet, obviously! Both were fabulous!

I'm not sure there is a recommended route, Lobby.  I have a friend whose first opera was 'Parsifal'.  I tried to persuade him to start with something a bit lighter because I was scared he'd be put off Wagner, or even opera itself, for good; but he loved it.  By contrast when my brother lived in Germany, I took advantage of free lodgings to visit German opera houses and on my first visit he insisted on coming along with me to 'Tristan und Isolde'.  I told him he really ought to check out a recording or two to make sure he wouldn't be bored sick but he ignored me.  He'd already bought the tickets before doubts began to set in when he noticed how long it was!  Sure enough, he hated it but, to his credit, he sat through all three acts in attentive silence. 

My own first experience was a compulsory 'Don Pasquale' with the school.  I found it rather tedious and rediscovered opera through a library boxed set of 'Götterdämmerung' which I took to instantly, followed by a visit to the Liverpool Empire for 'Das Rheingold'

I still intuitively suspect that some works are more suitable for beginners of tender years.  The traditional favourites are probably popular for good reasons: 'Hänsel und Gretel' & 'The Cunning Little Vixen' always seem to go down well with children but whether they make the connection with the wider world of opera or just see the performances as a good day out I'm not sure.  All the children I've taken to see H&G loved it but afaik none of them has since shown an interest in opera.

'Madame Butterfly' is probably as good a choice as any if only because it's so popular and there will lots of people with whom Don Basilio's niece can discuss it if she feels so inclined (she could have a job finding someone with whom to share her newly-discovered enthusiasm for, say, 'Die Gezeichneten' !)

Have you tried the production of Faust currently in the Royal Opera's repertoire?  It's available on DVD with Gheorghiu, Alagna and Terfel, though in my view the first revival (Kelessidi, Beczala, Tomlinson) possibly had more to recommend it.

I never thought I could like this opera, then along came David McVicar and changed my mind.  That's not to say I have any expectation of ever enjoying it in any other production   Awful opera

As for cutting your teeth on Wagner - I am sure that had I discovered Tristan first, or Rheingold, I would have been hooked from the start.

Don B -

I'm not sure if this has been mentioned... but I would suggest doing your darndest to keep her away from any plot synopses, if it's not too late. Since there are surtitles (and I think that's fair enough - I wouldn't expect English sung to that music to be comprehenslble) she'll work out what's going on. I've always regretted with my Puccini experiences that I knew how they were going to end before they started...

Donny

1) I suggest you take your god-daughter/niece (does that mean you have to buy two presents!) to the Mikado - I've seen it 3 times, and hope to go again in February - an absolute hoot from soup to nuts.

2) Despite being keen on classical music, I didn't get into opera until my early 30s, when I went to see Rheingold, Peter Grimes and Magic Flute at WNO within a week. The first two blew me away, but I have never got on with Flute, although I love the other mature Mozart operas.

I think Rheingold or Don Giovanni would be good for starters - magnificent music, bags of stage action. Also Carmen, especially if you leave at the interval!

I hope you both have a good time, whatever you decide on.