Performer: 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.

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.