Elijah Moshinsky's production of the traditional pairing of Cavalleria Rusticana with Pagliacci, the one-act operas by Mascagni and Leoncavallo respectively, celebrated the golden jubilee of Welsh National Opera in 1996.

This revival marked an equally important milestone: its first staging under Tugan Sokhiev, the new young music director - whom the company so desperately needs to prove himself as golden boy.

There were plenty of hugely positive signs. The place was seething with passion: the pain and anguish of the characters was all too apparent. But - and it's a big but - some of the basics of ensemble and balance were periodically way off the mark. Sokhiev's control of the chorus and orchestra numbers was simply not tight enough, resulting in a juddering juggernaut that made for uncomfortable listening.

On stage, Dennis O'Neill as Turiddu in Cavalleria and Canio in Pagliacci was unshakable. But while his Santuzza, Katja Lytting, warmed to her role, she was too much of a victim and too needy to engender sympathy. Nuccia Focile was a fiery Nedda and embraced the role of Columbine in Leoncavallo's play-within-a-play with consummate ease.

Thanks, too, to Jonathan Summers's admirable Tonio and the intricate counterpoint of movement by the circus troupe, the drama at the heart of Pagliacci was never less than gripping. Revival director Robin Tebbutt re-created with a sure touch the essential magic of Moshinky's conception, allowing the lesser roles to contribute to the complex but vivid picture.

This was a perplexing evening, with magnificent five-star bursts but one-star moments as well. O'Neill sang as though he were fit to burst, and that is the last thing WNO needs. If verismo is opera as real life, this was often surreal.

To underline too much, as Sokhiev did here, is to undermine the work's balance, which is ultimately in his control and his alone. Sokhiev's gifts are no less evident than before, but he will have to curb his instincts a little for them to be as effective in the theatre.

· In rep until March 5. Box office: 029-2087 8889. Then touring.