The Centre's dead acoustics didn't do La Traviata any favours but the quality of the singing was high during the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa's first visit to the city.

Violetta, exquisitely sung by Paris Opera's Elena Ghernan, engaged me from the start. She was indeed a woman in love and when she was forced to give up Alfredo, her misery and distress were palpable.

Similarly, Oleg Lykhach's Alfredo was devastatingly handsome and winning and easily managed to catch the naivete of the young man falling in love with a high-class courtesan.

With the superb baritone of Stanislav Trifanau's Giorgio Germont, this Traviata gave us some fine singing and acting.

The costumes were lavish, the set fine. This was a firmly traditional production with not a piece out of place and not a hint of updating anywhere.

Yarena Skybiny did a startling job in the orchestra pit, adding enjoyment to what was a totally satisfying production.