Performer: Sion Goronwy

The inaugural production of Oxford's new “international” company lacks direction, but Carmen Giannattasio’s Tosca makes the trip worthwhile. 

Tchaikovsky stipulated that a staging of Eugene Onegin need not be lavish but should be kept in period. He would have been satisfied with the results here.

Oliver Leith's opera is inspired by the death of Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain and it turns out to be a mesmerising, fulfilling creation.

Finally reaching the stage of the Venetian theatre, Benjamin Britten's first major opera meets with success thanks to Juraj Valčuha's conducting, Paul Curran's staging and an excellent cast.

Britten's four lovers were costumed in quasi-contemporary, even glamorous manner, stripping to their underwear for the end of Act 2... so more Love Island than Ancient Athens.