Performer: Ekaterina Sadovnikova

A beautiful 17th-century setting does nothing to dim the freshness and relevance of Sir David McVicar's production for Opera Australia.

Here was the much-loved three-act opera Rigoletto, yes, but chances are, it was one far beyond Verdi’s wildest dreams.

Promising young South-African director Alessandro Talevi opened the new season at the Teatro La Fenice with a new mis-en-scene of Mozart's Idomeneo.