I love the thrill of seeing and hearing an opera for the first time. Le Comte Ory is a new opera to me, although I admit I did watch the first 20 minutes of Glyndbourne's production when it was broadcast in the 1990s. At this distance in time I cannot say for certain whether that production was rubbish or whether I was just not capable of appreciating it.No doubts about this production though. It is a delight from beginning to end. I love the way that director Bartett Sher has set the production in an 18th century theatre with minimal scenery and visible props manipulated by an irascible, on-stage prompter. This is a visually stunning production with lavish costumes in shades of red, orange, purple and scarlet worn by the womens' chorus as well as some glamorous supernumeraries.The opera is set in a mediaeval village where all the men have gone to the crusades, hence the importance of the womens' chorus. The women, and in particular the local countess are besieged by a notorious womaniser, the Count Ory, who first masquerades as a hermit and then as a nun. There is no mens' chorus until the middle of Act II when 25 men, many of them bearded, appear disguised as nuns to hilarious effect. Strangely, the plot reminded me of Gilbert and Sullivan's Patience with the twenty lovesick maidens falling for Bunthorne.The opera contains music recycled from Il Viaggio à Reims: a fact which, I confess, I did not notice. If Il Viaggio requires the world's 14 best operatic soloists, Le Comte Ory requires three of them for the very demanding bel canto lead roles. In the title role, Juan Diego Floréz has, for him, a shaky start, not quite pinging the high notes in his usual manner. This is understandable as, apparently, his first child was born 35 minutes before the performance started. Fortunately he soon gets into his stride. Joyce DiDonato is a revelation in the trouser role of Isolier with convincing male body language and a voice that blends beautifully with Juan Diego's in their Act I duet. The really high notes are left to Diana Damrau as the Countess. For reasons that I do not understand, this is the first time that I have heard this wonderful soprano.The climax of the opera is what the News of the World would have called a three in a bed romp with the Count, the Countess and Isolier. Rossini writes wonderful music for his three stars here in a scene that is both sexy and sexually ambivalent. After all, the Count is pretending to be a nun and we all know that Isolier is really a woman. This is Rossini's last comedy. The dressing up is reminiscent of the Barber of Seville although the plot is much more straightforward. There are also signs that Rossini is striving for a more varied musical style with his trade mark crescendi notable by their absence. He does end the first act with one of his intricate sextets but the surprising thing is that it is mostly a cappella.

Although I love opera and have been consistently impressed by the Met(even with the odd disappointment), part of me thought are they going to succeed here. This is nothing against the Met itself or the performers themselves- I like Juan Diego Florez, I love Diana Damrau and the more I see Michele Pertusi the more impressed by him.I guess it's Le Comte Ory itself. No doubt the music is a lot of fun, full of sprightly melodies and style, however the story is somewhat problematic. Interesting it is and all the makings of a lively production when performed, but it feels like two different stories cobbled together sometimes a loose amalgamation of which the opera essentially is.You are past caring though when this production is as sensational and as hugely entertaining as it is. The costumes and sets are colourful and charming, with the original and risky staging reading as an opera within an opera. You forget any initial problems you find with the story too when the experience is so entertaining, farcial yet very emotionally multi-layered.Of the staging, the most effective for me were the long intense duet between Adele and Ory with in his guise of Sister Collette he feigns fear and begs affection and the subdued yet sensual scene towards the end of act 2 between Ory, Adele and Isolier.The orchestra play with zest, and Maurizio Benini's conducting is suitably stylish and buoyant. The singing is wonderful, Michele Pertusi is great as the exasperated tutor, Stephane Degout is appropriately hearty as Rimbauld and Susanne Resmark lends her warm voice to Ragonde. But it is the three leads who captivate.Juan Diego Florez's high register is effortless and he shows great technique as shown in the runs and phrasing, and his acting is charming and ideal. Diana Damrau once again exudes charisma, and sings with real agility and luster. And then as Isolier is Joyce DiDonato who is superb especially towards the end of act 2, acting with swagger and showing off lush sound and impeccable passage-work.All in all, a sensational production. 10/10 Bethany Cox