Political Tragedy - Giuseppe Pennisi attended a performance of Wagner's 'Rienzi' in Rome

Somewhat Different - Handel's 'Giulio Cesare' live in HD fascinated Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Historically Significant - 'Didone Abbandonata' by Johann Hasse, heard by Howard Smith. 'Michael Hofstetter directs a consistently dramatic, high tensile performance.'

DVD Spotlight. Considerable Turmoil - 'La Battaglia di Legnano', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... Verdi patriotic is not necessarily Verdi at his most subtle.'

Troubles in Florence - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening night of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino

A Popular Success - Some harsh criticism from Gregory Moomjy on Offenbach's 'La Périchole' at New York City Opera

Vibrant and Wild - Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman' enthralls Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. An Operatic Cinderella - Verdi's 'Il Corsaro' impresses Robert Anderson. '... a very sensitive staging ...'

DVD Spotlight. Quite Riveting - Pergolesi's 'L'Olimpiade' impresses Gerald Fenech. '... sound and visuals are top-drawer stuff.'

A Complex Plot - Giuseppe Pennisi was at the opening night of Verdi's 'Don Carlo' in Turin

Totally Authentic - 'The Marriage of Figaro' at Arizona Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Black and White - Saint-Saëns' 'Samson' as envisaged by La Fura dels Baus, enjoyed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Mature or Immature? - Roderic Dunnett asks some questions about 'Die Feen', a Wagner rarity performed recently by Chelsea Opera Group

Tough Satire - Alexander Raskatov's 'A Dog's Heart', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Vindictive Depths - Mike Wheeler was at Opera North's 'Otello'

Startlingly Effective - Purcell and Poulenc from Opera North, reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Truly Powerful - Giuseppe Pennisi experiences Ravenna's first performance of Britten's 'The Rape of Lucretia'

Theatrical Genius - Rossini's 'La Cenerentola' delights Maria Nockin

A Real Thriller - Makropoulos in the Lagoon, with Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. Divine Permission - A Gluck double bill, reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'The musical performance under Marc Minkowski is more convincing than the staging ...'

Shimmer, Sizzle and Shock - Roderic Dunnett is enthralled by Alban Berg's 'Lulu', currently on tour with Welsh National Opera

A Thunderous Send Off - John Adams and Peter Sellars' 'The Gospel According to the Other Mary' begins a European tour, and impresses Maria Nockin

Fatal Obsession - Wagner's 'Flying Dutchman' at Los Angeles Opera, experienced by Maria Nockin

Cosmic Pessimism - Verdi's rarely performed 'I Due Foscari', experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. A Real Achievement - Gioacchino Rossini's 'Adelaide di Borgogna', recommended by Robert Anderson. '... the Bologna singers and players ... respond finely to every nuance ...'

Seductive Intensity - Richard Wagner's 'Parsifal' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera impresses Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Striking Effect - Stephen Sondhein's 'Sweeney Todd', heard by Howard Smith. 'A "killer diller" on all counts.'

Anything Goes - A shocking 'Die Walküre', experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Much Awaited - Bayreuth's 'Das Rheingold' previewed in Rome, as experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

A Big Splash - Maria Nockin watches 'Rigoletto' from the Met, live in HD

Sweet and Sour - Adolphe Adam's 'Giselle', reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

Monumental Effect - Three companies combine forces, experienced by Maria Nockin

Unsex Me Here - Verdi, Shakespeare and Macbeth's lust for power, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Swift and Corrosive - Giuseppe Pennisi takes a sniff at Shostakovich's 'The Nose'

Luscious Vocal Colors - 'Tosca' at AZ Opera, reviewed by Maria Nockin

A Key Flaw - If 'Das Rheingold' becomes a comedy, by Giuseppe Pennisi

Ask Alice - An encounter with Birtwistle's Minotaur at Covent Garden, for Classical Music agony aunt Alice McVeigh

A Poignant Heroine - Donizetti's 'Maria Stuarda' in HD from New York Metropolitan Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

New Tricks? - Giuseppe Pennisi discusses a sexy 'Falstaff' at La Scala

Pure Gold - Berlioz's 'Les Troyens' live in HD, reviewed by Maria Nockin

Food for Thought - Giuseppe Verdi's 'Un ballo in maschera', considered by Maria Nockin

DVD Spotlight. Decrees of Fate - Handel's 'Deidamia', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Musically the opera bowls along with both speed and distinction; visually it is vaudeville.'

Big Voices - Verdi's 'Aida', live in HD, reviewed by Maria Nockin

DVD Spotlight. Tangled History - Verdi's 'I Lombardi alla Prima Crociata', reviewed by Robert Anderson. '... expertly conducted by Daniele Callegari and imaginatively staged by Lamberto Puggelli.'

Philologically Correct - A sexless 'Traviata' opens San Carlo's new season in Naples, experienced by Giuseppe Pennisi

Forbidden Questions - A controversial 'Lohengrin' at La Scala, reviewed by Giuseppe Pennisi

DVD Spotlight. Heartfelt Agitation - Rossini's 'Mosè in Egitto', reviewed by Robert Anderson. 'Musically all is well ...'

Most Versatile - Mozart's 'La Clemenza di Tito' live in HD, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Powerful Drama - Puccini's 'Suor Angelica', heard by Robert Anderson. '... Nelsons and the WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne have done their best for Puccini ...'

Whizzy Visuals - Gounod's 'Faust', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

Elements of Panto - Mozart's 'Don Giovanni' entertains Mike Wheeler

CD Spotlight. Top Notch - Magdalena Kozená's Carmen, recommended by Gerald Fenech. '... sheer and utter brilliance in every department.'

Passionate Urgency - Janácek's 'The Makropoulos Case', reviewed by Mike Wheeler

A Sad Story - 'Madama Butterfly' at Los Angeles Opera, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Psychological Evolution - 'Simon Boccanegra' in Rome impresses Giuseppe Pennisi

Expanding the Tale - Charles Gounod's 'Roméo et Juliette', enjoyed by Maria Nockin

Taking Risks - English Touring Opera's Autumn productions, reviewed by Roderic Dunnett

Elegant as well as Functional - Thomas Adès' 'The Tempest' live in HD, enjoyed by Maria Nockin

CD Spotlight. Economies of Scale - Excerpts from 'The Ring' down under, heard by Howard Smith. '... sonic excellence.'

Two Worlds - Malcolm Miller looks forward to the Wagner bicentenary and back to a semi-staged performance of Jonathan Harvey's 'Wagner Dream'