With reliably taut musical direction from Mazzola and a cast that gained in distinction as the evening progressed, the evening was a rewarding addition to the Deutsche Oper’s recent run of intelligent and provocative new Verdi productions

Mr Jurowski’s ability to highlight the Alpensinfonie’s instrumental depictions without overstating them allowed one to appreciate just how successfully Strauss had been able to integrate his pictorial evocations into a clear, cohesive structure.

If the programme was held together by few common threads – save perhaps for the prominent trumpet and the moments of heavy drumming shared by the three works – the quality of the performances yielded an evening of constant delights

Among the solid ensemble cast the Odetta of Meechot Marrero and the Lucia of Ángeles Blancas Gulin stood out for the heightened, occasionally frantic passions that they displayed

Between Christof Loy’s unsettling staging and a captivating performance of the title role from Sara Jakubiak, the evening provided an ideal introduction to Zandonai's Francesca da Rimini, a work of challenging intensity

It was neither the spirited playing of the orchestra, the enthusiasm of the singers, nor even the restrained splendour of the staging that could claim sole responsibility for the success of the production: it was rather the perfect balance between its various elements that transformed this 'Mitridate' into a subtle, stylish, and thoroughly engaging evening