Robin Scott

A 1985 performance of Luchino Visconti's 1958 staging for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Bernard Haitink memorably directs a superb cast that includes Ileana Cotrubas at the height of her powers and Luis Lima, unequalled in his tortured introspection, in the title role. (5-act version, sung in Italian)

Live performance, new production season 1984-5. BBC 2 Television relay on 30 March 1985 of performance of February 11.

The spiritual culture of Russia is reflected in the beauty of its churches and monasteries, in the paintings and frescoes that adorn them and - above all - in the sacred music that is sung in them.