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A performance of highs and lows with a stellar step-in from Lidia Fridman as Lucrezia Borgia and a confused production by Ferenc Anger plays at the Palace of Arts.

The Donizetti Opera Festival presents a rarity with a good cast of bel canto specialists in a somewhat disappointing production.

In this staging of Verdi’s  masterpiece, the director reminds us that the ominous epilogue springs from its short prelude.

A zinging account of Verdi's score, making up for Daniele Abbado's nondescript production. 

This production of Norma was definitely the best staging seen at the San Carlo in recent years.

This revival of a 2012 staging by Ferzan Ozpetek tells the story efficiently, while conductor Nello Santi only at times made us experience all the emotional depths this opera contains.

Harry Kupfer updates the action of Der Rosenkavalier to the early 20th century in an evocative production for the Salzburg Festival.

Gounod’s evergreen Faust is the Consul General of France's “Le French May” offering, enjoyable despite its blemishes. 

Take one hapless but lovable hero, one capricious but ultimately vulnerable heroine, a doctor and an army officer straight out of commedia dell’arte, a couple of basso buffo patter songs, at least one memorable romantic ballad, and stir the lot into a good lashing of boisterous Italian music with a sprinkling of furtive tears.