Artiste: Susanna Hurrell

Top notch singing, judicious pruning and production which prioritises human drama over camp spectacle make for an illuminating take on Handel's most frequently staged opera.

A Rossini comedy should sparkle, but this new production, starting its tour from Hackney, is decidedly lacking bubbles.

James Conway's production for English Touring Opera returns in a trimmed-down, single-evening guise.