Performer: Sonia Ganassi

Sara Blanch's Covent Garden debut, together with Juan Diego Flórez on top form, lead a fizzing revival of La fille du régiment from Royal Opera.

A clever production enlivens a rare, early opera at the Donizetti Opera Festival. A fantastic cast and a great period orchestra seal a resounding success under the lead of Alessandro De Marchi.

The Mediterranean setting of Auber's work is recreated by director Giorgio Barberio Corsetti with its intriguing teatro-immagine, where video projections and virtual reality are predominant.

Àlex Ollé and his Fura dels Baus team stage a spectacular looking Norma, the first new production of Bellini's opera at Covent Garden for nearly 30 years. 

For such a young conductor of unassuming stature, Gamba exudes surprising authority, bringing off players with a swipe and reaching out far from the pit to coordinate distant chorus members.

Deutsche Oper's concert production of Norma shows what a great opera it is; Edita Gruberová displays great artistry, although now with imperfections.