Last night, I was at the most amazing show - so visually rich with an incredible score to accompany an epic and distressing storyline about the most amoral of women.

There were film references galore (Alice In Wonderland; Clockwork Orange; Psycho; to name a few) and the production itself was costumed and lit in every shade, from monochrome to technicolour. An absolute feast for the eyes with a cracking set. It had animal heads, corpses, nudity, Jack The Ripper, a Chapman-Brothers-style "portrait" (a skimpy mannequin with too many legs and no head), and sequins galore. The refrain was "Heaven, death and thunderclap!" - which about summed it up. What more could you ask for!

Guessed it yet? Lulu by WNO. Think you don't "do" opera; think again. David Pountney really is stamping his mark impressively on an almost new company, especially if you include their recent rebranding.

Highly recommended, even - or maybe especially - if you're an opera newbie. There's one more night in Cardiff on 23rd Feb, then touring. Catch the enticing trailer here and book before you've missed it.