Verdi’s quest for the true essence of humanity is enhanced by British baritone Simon Keenlyside behind the mask of Rigoletto the clown.

An orchestral masterclass from Beethoven, and a moving hymn to love and freedom

Leonard Bernstein, a master of the 20^th century American musical, revisits the French Enlightenment.

One of the most poignant works from the sacred repertoire, magnified by over two centuries of legend.

Franco Fagioli brings his full talent to bear on a rare piece of Handel occupying the middle ground between tragedy and comedy.

Baritone Amartuvshin Enkhbat takes to the stage for Verdi’s founding opera in which courage and excess vie with each other with panache.

One northern European island, two sovereigns and Patrizia Ciofi and Carmen Giannattasio in a royal head-to-head penned by Donizetti.

Working with the twin themes of eternal love and power, Handel’s Rodelinda showcases his mastery of human passions.

The wind of freedom that blows through this sacred work by Berlioz makes it one of the great masterpieces of French Romanticism.

Mozart’s delight for the mind and senses is served up here by the evil and inspired Erwin Schrott in the title role.

The art of “musical conversation” according to Strauss, with a stellar cast headed by the pairing of Anja Harteros and Michael Volle.

A “hit” and an Italian baroque legend celebrated by Julien Chauvin and a duo of seasoned performers of this demanding repertoire.

An opera that does not say its name and offers the most intense evocations of the last days of Christ

The masterpiece of Lully and Quinault in the unpublished version of Francoeur under the expert baton of Hervé Niquet

Yet another love story. The dream of mortal Semele who is loved by a god is one of the most inspired works to flow from the pen of Handel.

Massenet depicts love with painterly skill and the cast is led by the pairing of Juan Diego Flórez and Nino Machaidze.

In the St Matthew Passion, Bach’s artistry is fully expressed in all its splendour and maturity

A lyrical tragedy with Racinian accents, according to Rameau, in the hands of the crack team of Stéphanie D’Oustrac and Cyrille Dubois.

All the consummate artistry of Monteverdi, historic “founder” of the opera genre for a perfect blend of theatre performance and music.

A dazzling cast comes together for one of Handel’s earliest Italian triumphs.

An opéra bouffe successor to La Vie Parisienne with imbroglios and mistaken identities galore. Pure Offenbach to be savoured anew.