A BONANZA post today to mark the start of the new season...

 AS I mentioned in my previous blog post, I spent the weekend in Cyprus at an opera festival. There is no Liverpool connection whatsoever - yes I know, even though Scousers get everywhere - but as Pafos is so popular with British holidaymakers there's a chance some of you might be tempted to go out there next year.

No hang on, there is a slight link - Pafos is currently bidding to be Capital of Culture and it's Aphrodite Festival is a strong part of its bid. It's the 13th year of the opera festival and each time they build an outdoor auditorium next to the medieval castle in the harbour for just three performances.

MOZART'S singspiel of daring quests and all-conquering love was given a very British make-over in the Welsh National Opera's cheerful staging.

The original German text was replaced by Jeremy Sams's well-translated version in English; the Masonic-type brotherhood donned raincoats and bowler hats and Pamina, the captured princess, was very Pre-Raphaelite heroine.

The stage was flanked, farce-like, by a series of doors, through which the monster of the opening scene - resembling a giant lobster - snapped with his head and claws until effortlessly offed by the Queen of the Night's ladies-in-waiting.

When not polishing off sea creatures with a flick of the wrist, these three (played by Carolyn Dobbin, Camilla Roberts and Joanne Thomas) busied themselves between trying to control their attraction to Tamino and tempting him with flashes of their red tights.