Manon, Royal Opera House

One of the jewels in the crown of this season’s Royal Opera House programme is Jules Massenet’s Manon, the most popular opera of his repertoire of comic operas. An exquisitely charming portrait of life and culture in Belle Époque Paris, Massenet’s tale of a young girl corrupted by wealth in her search for love opens this January in a Metropolitan Opera (New York), Scala (Milan) and Théâtre du Capitole (Toulouse) co-production directed by French supremo Laurent Pelly.

Pelly’s ambitious production, designed by long-term collaborator Chantal Thomas, places the beautiful Albanian-born soprano Ermonela Jaho in the role of the eponymous Manon - widely tipped as one of the greatest female roles in opera.Returning to the Royal Opera House following her title-role performance in2012’s spirited La Traviata, we’re expecting great things indeed.

Ably stepping in for Jaho on a few nights in this run is up-and-coming American soprano Ailyn Pérez, who had her Royal Opera House debut in late 2011’s Traviata. Heralded by the New York Times as having “the makings of a major soprano”, we particularly recommend catching her performances in the lead role on January 31 and February 4. For an extra treat,keep your eyes peeled for a heartbreaking duet with Des Grieux 'Tu pleures!' played by Norweigan baritone, Audun Iversen, which promises to be sensational. General booking opens on 22 October, so be sure to commit the date to your diary now.

Tickets: £7- £160