Artiste: Deborah Humble

After its Bendigo Ring, Melbourne Opera brings off another artistic coup with a fabulous performance of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in Melbourne's splendid Royal Exhibition Building. 

Wotan's predicaments provide Sydney's victory: Chief Conductor Simone Young has her musicians on some of their best form in recent years, with only a few question marks over an excellent concert performance.

Can a perfect performance of the stupendous Gurrelieder be anything other than five stars?