Classical Opera explore Mozart's music for castrati

Netia Jones is a visionary stage practitioner, but this show is a rare misjudgement.

Opera Vlaanderen revives a production of Handel's Agrippina based on American soap operas of the 1980s.

Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Chorus were on top form, joined by a team of Baroque soloists under Handel expert Harry Bicket to produce a memorable Theodora.

If Count Almaviva (to say nothing of Don Giovanni) were alive today, he might perhaps enlist Richard Dawkins to defend his behaviour. We know from evolutionary biology that the male stands the best chance of passing on his genes if he has many partners, the female if she can keep the male around to help raise the children he’s had with her.

I hear that both you and your friend are getting married to wealthy and pretty ladies from Washington DC?My heartiest congratulations, gentlemen! As my early wedding gift, allow me to offer you some marriage wisdom: when your beloved betray you, remember to forgive them and keep living happily ever after.Don’t believe in betrayal? Well, then, allow me to prove my point.

A significantly smaller than usual audience was present for the SCO’s ‘Symphonic Opera’ concert, the finale of its St Andrews season. In the days leading up to thee concert, there was some disgruntlement from people about the programme – “Another Haydn symphony” was a common complaint, the Orchestra having put on several in St Andrews recently.