WE were warned before the curtain rose of sickness in the cast which had claimed one principal character and left another two below par.

Yet over the next three hours Opera North, which is fast gaining a reputation as one of the country's leading operatic outfits, treated us to a simply charming adaptation of Mozart's Cosi fan tutte.

True, the heavy colds, the plague of any opera singer I'm sure, were making their presence felt but hats off to tenor Paul Nilon who battled on and gave a sterling performance as wronged lover Ferrando.

Oh how I wish he'd been fully fit, yet any difficulties he may have had hitting those high notes were certainly not shared by the straight laced, sombre suited Susannah Glanville-Fiordiligi.

Ms Glanville's performance was simply marvellous and I look forward to seeing her again.

Claire Evans who stepped in for Emma Selway in the role of Dorabella did an admirable job but surely the honours in the flippery, saucy stakes goes to Linda Kitchen-Despina.

The highlight of last night was the simply marvellous "doctor" scene, full of Mae-West like gestures, come hither looks and much wiggling of hips, it was a joy to behold.

If I have any criticism it's of the set, Cosi fan tutte is light, frothy and flip. The stark aircraft hangar-like set of Matthew Howland and Robin Rawstorne were too severe for my flamboyant tastes. Angela Warhurst

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.