Performer: Konu Kim

Not quite as innocent an account of opera buffa as others, but for quality of musicianship, Glyndebourne Tour's revival of Mariame Clément’s production of Donizetti's comedy hits all the right notes.

Lush visuals and appealing singing do not quite make up for a somewhat lacklustre revival of Nicholas Hytner's acclaimed 2006 production of Mozart's late comedy.

The performance at Bergamo Opera Festival proved that L'ange de Nisida can contest the place of La favorite in Donizetti's catalog.

The young singers spin any raw material into opera gold, sending the audience home as uplifted as if they’d just glugged a bellyful of Pimm’s.

After nearly two decades away from the Covent Garden stage, it was time Britten's Billy Budd came home, in a new production from Madrid by Deborah Warner. 

On her house debut, in Covent Garden's second cast of the year, Angel Blue is completely convincing as Verdi's doomed courtesan; Benjamin Bernheim is an unconventional but compelling Alfredo; Simone Piazzola a persuasive Germont père.