Performer: Matthew Grills

An enchanting production, imaginative, amusing and suitable for children of all ages.

Craig Colclough's Don Pasquale is arrogant, boyishly hopeful, outraged and pathetic by turns, his singing free of silly buffo mannerisms, the voice grand.

Instead of telling a story of spiritual enlightenment and ultimate redemption through faith, Pierre Audi's reading is bereft of mystery and magic.

The profusion of images and ideas in Frank Castorf's Bavarian Staatsoper production of From the House of the Dead threatens to rob Janáček's opera of its humanity.

Despite the starriest of casts the première of Miroslav Srnka's double opera South Pole falls behind the expectations created by the media hype, but is celebrated by the audience.

San Francisco Opera's production of Sweeney Todd brings nothing new to the musical, but the cast includes wonderful surprises – most notably Stephanie Blythe's Mrs Lovett.