A pretty great Falstaff on video, with Maestri in top form and a young (and kinda cute) Florez as Fenton. A very "trad" production but pulled off effortlessly. And no one conducts this opera like Muti

Been getting stuck into this French Vepres. Never heard of the singers but the men in particular are pretty great?! More interesting than the (pretty bland) Levine, better tenor than the Muti - is this my go-to recording now?

A delightful recording of a delightful opera!

I'm a pretty big Vivica fan and she's great here; technique is unreal! Probably more suited to Rossini, where the embellishments especially do it for me.

Probably my favourite Cav (and favourite Karajan). Ravishing playing but also palpable sense of building tension towards the inevitable tragedy. Cossotto and Bergonzi are marvellous; the duet is ravishing but also devastating.

Revisiting one of my faves. A bit more dramatic than most in this rep (e.g. Dessay in the Lamento della Ninfa and Ciofi's unhinged Lamento di Maria Stuara) but the big names bring big personality to this music and I love it.

Might’ve overdone the berry picking today

As always, Shelley’s Kitchen’s curry puffs are unreal. Three wasn’t enough 😭