Performer: Ellen Ruge

Leonardo García-Alarcón's exhumation of Bembo's work proves a winner, in a hyper-quirky staging by Netia Jones with Julie Fuchs as the pick of the fine singers.

Jon Fosse's bleak tale of alienation is graced with fine performances from a strong cast and excellent playing by the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra under Johannes Gustavsson.

Juliana Zara and Annemarie Kremer lead the cast in a riotous, yet deeply touching, new production from Nederlandse Reisopera. 

John Adams’ opera about Richard Nixon’s historic meeting with Mao Tse-Tung is performed with all round excellence, with a real find on the podium in the shape of Olivia Lee-Gunderman.

The latest double bill from Staatsballett Berlin features witty, high energy and thought provoking works by Mats Ek and Alexander Ekman, though the audience may not fathom their meaning.

A world premiere of an opera by Philip Glass is bound to draw attention... especially when many of its performers are members of a circus troupe.