Intermezzo

Romeo et Juliette - Hommes en Collants

Roméo et Juliette (Gounod) - Royal Opera House, 27 October 2010

Gentlemen of the chorus - if you're forced to don clinging tights, at least demand an Acosta-sized dance belt to sweeten the deal.

Nicolas Joël's 1994 production of Roméo et Juliette is medieval Verona as a French and Saunders sketch. It's been revived only once since - as a Gheorghiu/Alagna vehicle - but with no megastars to demand its resuscitation this time round, one has to wonder why the Royal Opera House dug it up. Devoid of psychological insight or dramatic impetus, it serves the opera poorly. Gounod's music does its best to sweep you up in the young lovers' disastrous passion; Joël simply has you sniggering at the number of knobbly knees and saggy y-fronts on display.

Pavol Breslik fills Rolando's underpants

L'elisir d'amore - National Theatre Munich, 21 July 2010

Of course I knew (a few hours) in advance. But it seemed from the collective gasp that many were taken by surprise when it was announced that illness prevented Rolando Villazon from appearing and Pavol Breslik, having arrived just an hour before from a Salzburg rehearsal, would be taking his place. I probably wouldn't have booked for one of my least favourite operas (long sold out) if it wasn't for the scheduled appearance of one of my most favourite singers. It seemed from the widespread booing when Rolando's name was announced that many others wouldn't have either.