The Orchestra and Chorus of the Puccini Festival at Torre del Lago were formed for the Festival performances of operas by Puccini, in Italy and abroad. They have undertaken important tours throughout Europe, Asia and the United States with a repertoire ranging from the baroque to the twentieth century. Particularly notable have been stagings of Madama Butterfly in Tokyo, Kobe and Nagasaki, and of Turandot in Beijing, with a new finale by the Chinese composer Hao Weiya. The connection with Japan has continued with a Puccini Marathon in 2007 and 2008, bringing collaboration between Italian and Japanese artists. The Orchestra and Chorus have been directed at Torre del Lago by a distinguished list of musicians, including Placido Domingo, Yoel Levi, Alberto Veronesi, Claudio Scimone, Keri Lynn Wilson, Julian Kovatchev, Laurence Gilgore, and Stewart Robertson.