David McVicar's staging of La traviata, first seen at Scottish Opera last October, has opened at the Wales Millennium Centre in the first leg of Welsh National Opera's autumn tour...

...this is a thoughtful, astute take on Verdi's middle-period masterpiece.

Tanya McCallin's beautifully observed monochrome designs, lit by Jennifer Tipton, update the work by a decade or so to the age of bustles and Tissot. Alfie Boe offers a light voiced, sympathetic Alfredo. Dario Solari's dignified Germont was smoky-toned and lyrical...

...the conductor Andrea Licata led a secure account, with expert contributions from the WNO orchestra and chorus.