Czech mate: a hilarious and immaculately executed Bartered Bride at Garsington

Simple solutions prove the best in Beethoven's "problem" opera as John Cox's staging is revived at Garsington.

Ruth Knight untangles Handel's Rodelinda, directing a new staging at Garsington which features a feast of fine singing. 

Jack Furness directs a terrific new Queen of Spades at Garsington – haunting and harrowing. 

Simon Higlett’s exquisite sets and costumes give a backdrop to Donizetti’s frothiest of rom-coms.

Christopher Alden, Chris Hopkins and an excellent cast send us a comic roller coaster ride with Verdi’s ultra-rarely performed second opera.

In the first and last acts, ladies entered with a train still attached to a bolt of cloth, which was then cut to length by an attendant. Was this production brought to the stage in a great hurry, allowing no time for costume fittings?