1 LA BOHEME

Christian Badea takes the baton as John Copley directs Puccini's ironic romantic tragedy for Covent Garden. With Wookyung Kim as the poet Rodolfo and Alexia Voulgaridou as the tragic seamstress Mimi.
The Royal Opera House, Bow Street, WC2 (www.royaloperahouse.org 020-7304 4000), Sat, Tues & Thur

2 CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA/PAGLIACCI

Edward Gardner takes the baton as Richard Jones directs Mascagni's story of two women competing for one man, and Leoncavallo's tragic tale of a jealous husband. An English National Opera production.
London Coliseum, St Martin's Lane, WC2 (www.eno.org 0870 1450200), Sat, Wed & Fri

3 LA TRAGEDIE DE CARMEN

Andrew Steggall directs Bizet's torrid tale of a fiery Gypsy girl, a soldier and a bullfighter. Performed by English Touring Opera.
Hackney Empire, Mare Street, E8 (www.hackneyempire.co.uk 020-8985 2424), Sat

4 THE TALE OF TSAR SALTAN

The Mariinsky (Kirov) Opera makes its Sadler's Wells debut with a performance of Rimsky- Korsakov's Pushkin-inspired fairytale. Sung in Russian with English surtitles. Tugan Sokhiev conducts.
Sadler's Wells, Rosebery Avenue, EC1 (www.sadlerswells.com 0844 4124300), from Fri, until Oct 18