For me, Mozart's The Marriage Of Figaro, is the perfect opera: Beautifully crafted, funny, human and revolutionary.

It was the first opera to feature servants getting the better of their bullying masters.

Palace Opera gave it a near-perfect production. This small touring company had updated it to the late Victorian/early Edwardian era but it was no worse for that.

Director Toby Wilsher eschewed all stunts, trickery and mucking about, presenting this sparkling comedy brilliantly.

It was sung in English, and very clear English at that. You could hear every word so there was no need to search the memory or keep glancing up at surtitles.

This was opera at its best, all you needed to do was listen and let the plot and the wittiness of the translation unfold around you. And it had a highly talented cast, not least a Cherubino from Sussex, Joanne Edworthy, who cut her teeth at Glyndebourne and with Welsh National Opera.

The whole of the cast was ravishing in its singing, acting and attention to detail.

I could not help but fall in love with this Susanna (Jenny Saunders) but the whole production bounced along deliciously, doing Mozart a great service.

In the pit, the London Concertante did fine work for a small chamber orchestra, adding even more sparkle to Mozart's score.

So top marks to Palace Opera and, please, come back again, very soon.