Performer: Frank Porretta

In this anti-realistic, colourful and beautifully played production of Pagliacci, the director extends the concept expressed in the Prologue: clowns are real life people, but also real life people are clowns in a larger play.

San Diego Opera's season opening Pagliacci focused squarely on the character of Tonio, in Andrew Sinclair's intriguing vision for this verismo classic. But the vocal performances were lacking. A director can only do so much.

Even though, unlike most American opera lovers, I am not a big fan of Puccini’s music, Tosca has a very special place in my heart. Set to the most heartbreaking and overwhelmingly beautiful music, this story of a classical love triangle ending in the three deaths never gets too old or too boring.