The Siege of Calais, English Touring Opera

Donizetti’s The Siege of Calais is the strongest of the three works in English Touring Opera’s current season. Historical and musical purists may object to director James Conway's jettisoning the third act in favour of a taut and tragic two-acter (in which we assume the six burghers of Calais are executed), and Conway plays faster and looser with the score by incorporating two numbers from the discarded third act.

He and his designer Samal Blak also update the action from 1346, when Edward III’s year-long siege began, to the time of Stalingrad, hitting us with well-worked images of despair, degradation and distressed concrete.

The show, though, is more than redeemed by the momentum and urgency conductor Jeremy Silver injects into the music, achieving at times a Beethovenian lift-off.

There’s also thrilling, emotive singing from mezzo Helen Sherman in the trousers role of Aurelio (hero of the besieged port); from Eddie Wade as Eustachio, Aurelio’s father and the town mayor; and from Paula Sides as Aurelio’s wife.

The tenor Andrew Glover was mightily impressive, too, as Aurelio’s friend, Giovanni.

It may not be English, or indeed French, history as we know it, but ETO has done The Siege of Calais proud.

Tours to May 21; englishtouringopera.org.uk