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Laurence Cummings and John Caird’s second Garsington exploration of the operas of Monteverdi brims with wonderfully playing and singing in an attractive setting.

Terrific music making with a light directorial touch brings mixed results to Monteverdi's 1643 masterpiece. 

David Alden's production is a vivid telling of Janáček's devastating village drama. With a terrific cast and a splendid performance from the pit, this revival is an unalloyed artistic success.

Brought to life by some sensational singing from a strong cast, Kosky's staging delivers repeated emotional punches. 

A memorable performance makes a worthy memorial to the late, great Bernard Haitink, who conducted the production's premiere. 

An embarrassingly trite libretto proves unsalvageable, even with a committed cast of singers.

Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria tells one of the world’s great stories. This production is a treat for early opera fans and a great introduction for those new to the genre.

Deep in Dorset, Anna Patalong gives a powerful Tatyana, ably supported by a well-taught chorus in an English translation of Tchaikovsky's opera of hearts and friendships broken.

Crowning this cycle came a truly magnificent performance of Götterdämmerung, centred very much on Richard Farnes and his orchestra.

In Anna Russell's wittily deadpan analysis of Wagner's Ring cycle, she describes Wotan as “the head god” – pausing for dramatic effect before adding “and he's a crashing bore too.”

Opera North's Andrea Chénier at Leeds Grand Theatre directed by Annabel Arden is full of modern relevance and a fine start to the new season

Ailyn Bozok's minimlaist production of Delibes' Lakmé at Opera Holland Park contains much tender beauty and is carried by fine musical performances. 

Smetana's The Bartered Bride by Opera North at Leeds Grand Theatre directed by Daniel Slater is a confident revival of an old success. 

Opera North's static production of Monteverdi's The Coronation of Poppea directed by Tim Albery takes place in a murderous psychopath’s private cellar. 

A brilliantly successful performance of Götterdämmerung by Opera North to bring its four-year Ring to a fiery close. 

The West End/Broadway musical is alive and well, raking in millions with its blend of light music, song and dance routines and not-too-taxing drama. But its spiritual ancestor, the operetta, is an unfashionable beast.