Performer: Paolo Battaglia

Traditionally, Italy's most unforgiving loggionisti are reputed to reside at Parma's Teatro Regio. Thankfully for the cast, they appear to be a dying breed.

Quoi de plus cohérent pour une saison versaillaise célébrant le tricentenaire de la mort du plus absolu des monarques français, que de programmer les subversives Noces de Figaro à l’Opéra Royal ?

Torre del Lago is the quintessential setting for Madama Butterfly. The backdrop to the open-air theatre could easily be the gentle hills and bay of Cio-Cio San's own Nagasaki.