Performer: Saimir Pirgu

Andreas Homoki's meta-staging in Paris' Opéra-Comique cannot detract from strong musical performances at the Edinburgh Festival, led by Gaëlle Arquez as a near-perfect Carmen.  

The Armenian soprano sweeps all before her in a delightfully controlled, touching performance, enhanced by a voice that would melt the stoniest of hearts. 

One of the leading events of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden's Festtage, Jérémie Rhorer's interpretation of the Missa solemnis is a monument to the composer... but its marble is not always too cleanly carved.

Albanian tenor Saimir Pirgu, a protégé of Luciano Pavarotti, has steadily built a strong international career, performing with the world’s leading opera companies. He describes his inspirations on the road to “tenordom”, the importance of Mozart in building his career, maintaining good health, and which baritone roles he would sing in the shower!