Performer: Karita Mattila

Blending theater and symphony, the Houston Symphony reimagines Peer Gynt as Grieg intended – complete with dialogue, chorus, and a luminous cameo from Karita Mattila.

Corinne Winters is phenomenal as the self-possessed Jenůfa in The Royal Opera's revival of Claus Guth's powerful staging. 

Superb singing and brilliant work in the pit can't quite rescue Jiří Nekvasil's overambitious production.

Christof Loy’s thoughtful staging enlightens the character of the protagonists in Sophocles’ tale of matricide; Sir Antonio Pappano extracts great nuance and beauty from Strauss’ score.

Ambur Braid excels in the title role in the Canadian Opera Company’s starrily cast revival of Atom Egoyan's production.

Karita Mattila and Keval Shah call up all their combined artistry at Wigmore Hall for searing performances of Poulenc’s La Voix humaine and a quartet of torch songs.

The Finnish soprano doesn’t like the word evil. Her approach to singing villain roles is to find the humanity in the character – which is always there.