Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Rebecca Afonwy-Jones

A tiny stage and five musicians prove no obstacle to Irish National Opera’s lively, witty Bartered Bride, where sharp casting and clever direction turn modest means into genuine delight.

Henry Neill gives a devastating performance as Sam in Trouble in Tahiti in The Royal Opera’s Bernstein double bill in the Linbury Theatre. 

Who wouldn't relish the chance of seeing a Ring cycle at close quarters? Longborough's Die Walküre isn't perfect, but it consistently delivers on the story and on character interpretation.

Longborough's Ring Cycle reaches completion in the Cotswold's, effectively staged by Amy Lane. 

It sizzles with energy, fizzes with musical delight and rejoices in an understated sense of fun. Conway gives the work’s incongruities free rein and defies the audience not to chuckle.

Even given a routine revival, McVicar's staging has much to recommend it, returning the opera to its literary roots. 

Mark Le Brocq portrays a convincing Gerontius while other soloists, choir and orchestra deliver a fine, moving performance of Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius.

Welsh National Opera brings its 1978 production of Madama Butterfly to Milton Keynes.  

Welsh National Opera may have reached the ripe old age of seventy but it's very much alive and kicking.

Stephen Medcalf's meticulous staging of Tchaikovsky's bitter masterpiece is lit up by Jung Soo Yun's Lensky, giving a direct injection of emotions: verismo before its time.

Swanhunter is a fine retelling of a wonderful yarn, and this rendering of it contains a great deal to enjoy for an audience of all ages, albeit marred by inconsistent intelligibity.