Performer: Claudia Boyle

Donizetti heads West in Cal McCrystal's riotous, laugh-out-loud L'elisir d’amore, where dazzling singing meets cowboy capers in a gloriously zany production for Irish National Opera. 

The French premiere of the British composer's opera will be the undisputed high point of the Grande Boutique's season: a perfect confluence of music, staging and cast.

A terrific cast of principal singers lead by soprano Claudia Boyle, coupled with compelling direction from Bruno Ravella make for an exhilarating operatic experience in Donizetti's Zoraida de Granata. 

In the expert hands of both director Warlikowski and conductor Kent Nagano, the sequel to Bernstein's Trouble in Tahiti proves to be even darker and more dramatic.

Barry goes for out-weirding Carroll at a fast and furious pace. There's plenty of fun and it's beautifully staged – but is that enough?

Tom Creed's take on Offenbach's opéra fantastique works best in the Olympia act in this new production in Dublin.