Tosca review – Puccini’s high-octane bloodbath bonanza makes for a shocking festival kick-off

Caitlin Gotimer’s Tosca goes from 0-60 in mere moments while the London Philharmonic unlock the barely contained violence in Ted Huffman’s long-awaited exceptional staging

The Railway Children review – Turnage reimagines classic story in a lively family opera

Mark-Anthony Turnage and Rachael Hewer’s new 80s-set version of E Nesbit’s tale has a Le Carré meets the Famous Five vibe and boasts a strong cast, imaginative staging and a vivid, colour-filled score

La Bohème review – noirish reframing of Puccini’s classic weepy

Floris Visser’s stylish bohemia recalls Brassaï’s Paris, while Puccini’s score is delivered with crispness and elasticity

Káťa Kabanová review – furtive groping and a wing-bloodied angel stalk flawed staging of Janáček’s opera

Robin Ticciati conducts the London Philharmonic in this finely sung but inconsistent revival of Damiano Michieletto’s 2021 production

Le Nozze di Figaro review – astute period staging of Mozart’s masterpiece is as poignant as it is funny

Glyndebourne, SussexMariame Clément allows the story of the predatory Count to resonate across the centuries in this exhilaratingly well performed and eye-catching production

Saul review – probing, dark and engrossing staging of Handel’s oratorio

Barrie Kosky’s remarkable 2015 production returns to the summer festival with Christopher Purves and Iestyn Davies superb in the lead roles

Parsifal review – reconciliation rather than redemption as Wagner staging focuses on family over faith

Jetske Mijnssen’s production of Wagner’s opera – the festival’s first – bypasses much of its mysticism and magic, but it is moving and musically very special

The week in classical: The Makropulos Affair; Uprising – review

Orla Boylan captivates in Olivia Fuchs’s masterly Scottish Opera Janáček. And Jonathan Dove’s rousing new community opera puts down firm roots

Uprising review – ravishingly sung opera rails against older generation destroying the planet

Teenage climate activist Lola struggles with school and family, while damaged nature is given its own voice

La Traviata review – perfectly pitched staging with Verzier and Federici breathtaking

Tom Cairns’s naturalistic production of Verdi’s tragedy is revived for the autumn season with Elisa Verzier’s Violetta and Christian Federici’s Germont standouts

The week in classical: Carmen; Yuja Wang; Leonore Piano Trio; Tristan und Isolde – review

Paris’s Opéra-Comique joins forces with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra in louche yet explosive Bizet; Yuja Wang thrills with eight encores; and Stuart Skelton leads a classic Wagner revival

The week in classical: The Merry Widow; Aldeburgh festival – review

Thomas Allen steals a witty, sparkling new production of Léhar’s masterpiece, and a cosmic world premiere from Judith Weir lives up to her star billing

The Merry Widow review – De Niese and Olvera are compelling, but camp fun stifles subtlety

Double entendres, extra dialogue and sight gags ensure that Cal McCrystal’s new staging entertains, but it’s at the expense of emotional power. In the pit, John Wilson is superlative, likewise Germán Olvera’s charismatic Danilo

The week in classical: Carmen; Celebrating 22 Years of Antonio Pappano – review

Glyndebourne hits 90 with Bizet’s sultry crowd-pleaser. Elsewhere, a starry farewell to a much loved maestro, and the fight to save Welsh National Opera

Carmen review – Chaieb beguiles as the tragic heroine in uneven production

Opening the 2024 festival, Diane Paulus’s staging relocates Bizet’s tragedy to a grim present day. Rihab Chaieb is a strong Carmen, Dmitry Cheblykov’s Escamillo shines but Dmytro Popov’s José doesn’t convince