Lidiya Yankovskaya is our cover feature - as she leads the English National Opera in Bartok's Bluebeard's Castle Jessica Duchen discovers her journey into opera, and time leading the Chicago Opera Theater. They also discuss Lidiya's Refugee Orchestra project - Yankovskaya was born in Russia, and moved to the USA when she was 12.

Rebecca Toal interviews head of English Touring Opera, Robin Norton-Hale, about her new production of Judith Weir’s Blond Eckbert for the Aldeburgh Festival, as well as her experience so far taking on ETO and plans for the company's future.

New General and Artistic Director of New Orleans Opera, British-American librettist Lila Palmer writes about taking on the US-based role, and her opera career, which has its roots at English National Opera. She explores how coming from the British system set her up for leadership, as the UK saw her develop in so many different ways.

Stephen Pritchard previews the new production of Bizet's Carmen at the Royal Opera House, speaking with renowned mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina and director Damiano Michieletto's about his take on the ever-popular opera.

We then look to Dorset Opera, as George Hall previews a new opera based on Thomas Hardy’s Under the Greenwood Tree and then to Glyndebourne, as Michael White speaks to director Cal McCrystal about his new production of the Merry Widow and how he approaches making opera funny.

We also explore two young artist programmes, including the acclaimed Atelier Lyrique programme at Verbier, and the Riccardo Muti academy.

Live reviews include Seattle Opera's X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X; a roundup of opera from Vienna's State Opera & MusikTheater; a roundup from the 2023 Verdi Festival; UK Opera Fringe reviews, highlighting rising stars from the London music colleges.

Our CD and AV reviews section looks at recent releases from Will Liverman, Michael Spyres, Vienna Staatsoper's Parsifal and Opera Rara, as well as films of Saint-Saëns's Samson et Dalila from Covent Garden and Wagner's Die Walküre from Deutsche Oper Berlin.

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