Lulu - your homework for tonight

Christof Loy's new production of Berg's Lulu opens at the Royal Opera House today with Agneta Eichenholz (above) in the title role.

Here are a few resources for the curious. Impressions of the show to follow tomorrow.

Cast and production team interviews:

• musicalcriticism.com: Antonio Pappano on the Royal Opera's new Lulu

• The Times: Christof Loy on on bringing Berg's Lulu to life

• operatoday.com: Michael Volle’s intriguing Dr Schön

• Daily Telegraph: Agneta Eichenholz: new Lulu taps into animal instincts

• musicomh.com: Interview: Jennifer Larmore

Recordings:

• Glyndebourne Festival Opera's Lulu on DVD. , Christine Schäfer makes a physically and vocally alluring heroine in this simple but effective 1996 Graham Vick production. Andrew Davis emphasises the score's post-romantic side. Beautifully directed for TV by Humphrey Burton - all opera DVDs should be as good as this.

• Pierre Boulez's 1979 recording was the first of the completed three act version and has yet to be bettered for intelligence and clarity. It's also available on DVD on Ebay from seller stubacker0 (though be warned it's poorly shot and lacks subtitles. Unless you speak Japanese.)

Books:

• Alban Berg: Lulu (Cambridge Opera Handbooks) by Douglas Jarman is the most user-friendly of the generalist guides and covers all aspects of the opera and the composer.

• The Operas of Alban Berg : Volume 2 by George Perle is a dry read, but explores the musical language of the opera with unparalleled thoroughness and particular reference to serialist aspects. Barely a note remains unturned.

• Alban Berg: A Guide to Research by Bryan Simms lists the slew of available literature, and makes a good launchpad for any specialist enquiry. Take a peek inside here.