Performer: Michael Smallwood

Weill and Brecht's excoriating satire is brilliantly executed; after such an intense opener, Mahagonny-Songspiel is less convincing.

The Staatsoper revives a confused production by Hans Neuenfels, under the baton of Thomas Guggeis.

Excellent musical performances are confounded by clumsy, unimaginative staging in Rameau's explosive first opera.