Performer: Aleksandrs Antoņenko

Mascagni's stirring music and gripping storyline cast their spell over a festival audience at the edge of the Baltic Sea.

A celebration of young Latvian musicians and established Latvian artists performing a huge variety of works from Vivaldi to Stevie Wonder: how about that for something completely different?

During the “Salce” and “Ave Maria” in Act Four Bezsmertna turned this to magical effect, thinning out and floating her shimmering soprano into gossamer threads.

Herheim places the composer at the centre of his opera in a staging that's clever and erudite but somewhat cold; musical performances are mixed.

Netrebko met the audience’s high expectations, as she does every time, conquering the challenges with her remarkable artistry. 

The Met Opera's concert performance of Verdi's Requiem was an emotional tribute to Dmitri Hvorostovsky.