Performer: Hannah Poulsom

Jack Furness directs a terrific new Queen of Spades at Garsington – haunting and harrowing. 

Students triumph in Tchaikovsky's Iolanta and Ravel's L'Enfant et les sortilèges.

Dove's infectious score nods to Copland, Bernstein and Britten and its tongue-twisting ensembles and high-wire vocal writing were wonderfully performed. 

Brecht and Weill's tirade against Big Money is exceptionally well acted throughout; vocal and musical performances are more mixed.

“Folies Bergère does Greek gods” is how director Martin Duncan describes Offenbach's Orphée aux enfers, and his production for Royal Academy Opera is enormous fun.