Artiste: Robert Forrest

Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall bubbles with a concert staging of Puccini's Gianni Schicchi with Sir Byn Terfel leading a cast of fine young singers from the European Opera Centre.

Timothy Edlin was a superb ass, first among six equals, in Liam Steel's production. 

Hot on the heels of its Eugene Onegin, full of potential marriages that never reach the altar, Dorset Opera put on an excellent production of an opera with a successful, slick and murderous power couple.