Live, Video: Find classical music concert, opera, ballet and dance reviews | Marina Costa-Jackson

With gloriously inventive sets and costumes, Alex Esposito’s splendid Four Villains drive a wonderfully entertaining new production.

Ryan McAdams conducts Tosca at the Kansas City Lyric Opera in a production by a famous former Tosca, Carol Vaness. 

Barrie Kosky's stark, spare La bohème gave it a rare spark of humanity focused on Marina Costa-Jackson's haunting Mimì, whose existence became the central focus even when she wasn't singing.

Verdi's most political of operas brilliantly highlights the juxtaposition of personal desires and political imperatives

Gorgeous playing under Sir Mark Elder wasn’t enough to mask the lack of theatrical drive in the scrupulously cast Dutch premiere of Delius’ most successful opera.

A musically excellent and unpretentious performance of Puccini's masterpiece from Cardiff.

A delightful opportunity to hear nine young singers at The Met, all of whom will likely have fulfilling careers.

“For some operas,” famed conductor Carlo Maria Giulini once said, “you can accept a voice of not absolute beauty – if it is well used and he is an artist and interpreter, it will work. But for Verdi you need all this plus the essential sound.