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Excellent singing, an amusing production and lively staging showcases Mascagni's Le maschere in the best possible light at Wexford Festival Opera. 

Erlanger's fractured and clichéd opera isn't helped by confused direction, although soprano Andreea Soare is nothing short of magnificent as the heroine. 

Wexford Festival thrives on resurrecting long-forgotten operas, so is the perfect place for Halévy's take on Shakespeare, neglected for 170 years.

In a 70th anniversary season dedicated to adaptations of Shakespeare, this concert performance made a compelling case for Karl Goldmark's final opera.

Since their creation in 2010, NIO has brought unconventional opera productions to Northern Ireland. Their Rigoletto is bold, emotional and engaging with a stellar cast of local and international talent.

Fine singing all round, sensitive continuo musicianship and dramatic action make for a thoroughly enjoyable Return of Ulysses by Monteverdi.

Rachel Kelly shines in a mixed production at Lismore Castle. 

Opportunities to see Mascagni's Guglielmo Ratcliff come few and far between, mainly because the title role is an absolute killer for any tenor mad enough to attempt it. Step forward, Angelo Villari...