Turandot, Welsh National Opera, Mayflower Theatre

WHEN Pavarotti let rip with his Nessun Dorma, it became probably the most recognised piece of opera on the planet but left a mighty headache henceforth for all who tried to stage Turandot, from where it was ripped.

Not just a nice tune, it is the key romantic climax of Puccini's elaborate fairytale and images of a portly Italian in a penguin suit just contrive to spoil the moment.

But when it rings out in the WNO's smartly staged production, lead Rafael Rojas leaves all thought of the three tenors far behind with a sensitive yet rousing powerhouse of a performance.

Staged in a Spartan but stylishly effective set, the show delights in splashing primary colour against a background canvas of corrugated purple.

Another nice touch is a wall of eerie faces that stare back at the audience when the curtain first rises,

silently reminding you of the swathe the blood-soaked princess has cut through a phalanx of would-be lovers with her lethal, impossible riddles.

While no one can offer more than Puccini, who really did give his all by dying before he finished Act 3, the WNO has pulled out all the stops here to offer accessible, exciting and stylishly realised opera.