A marvellous work in every respect, maybe the fact that is it not the normal blues-inflected, jazzy Gershwin has something to with it getting the infrequent stagings it does.

It was the first musical to be awarded a Pulitzer Prize in 1932, albeit in the drama category for George S Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind's book and Ira Gershwin's lyrics.

George's efforts didn't come into it as there was no award for music at the time but don't be thrown by the 'drama' tag.

It is out-and-out comedy with a heavy satirical slant.

American presidential candidate John P Wintergreen, trailing in the polls, hits on a campaign-winning platform of love and marries Mary Turner because she makes heavenly corn muffins.

Enter a Southern belle of French extraction Diana Devereaux, "the illegitimate daughter of an illegitimate son of an illegitimate nephew of Napoleon," who sues him for breach of promise of marriage.

An impeachment process follows and Gershwin's often opera comique-flavoured score, with 19 numbers rarely heard out of context, is fabulous.

Caroline Gawn directs the show with William Dazeley (Wintergreen), Bibi Heal (Mary), Heather Shipp (Diana), Richard Suart (French Ambassador) among the cast and Mark W Dorrell, music director of notable West End productions for the National Theatre, is the conductor.

A second new production in the autumn leg of Opera North's 2008-09 season is Bellini's version of Romeo and Juliet, The Capulets and the Montagues, or I Capuleti e I Montecchi as it is sung in Italian.

The opera has become quite popular in recent times and contains smashing music, as you might expect from the composer of La Sonnambula, Norma and I Puritani, but don't expect Shakespeare.

It is virtually carried by Romeo, a travesti role sung here by much-acclaimed mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly, although tenors have been cast in it, and Giulietta (Juliet) is Swedish soprano Marie Arnet.

Tebaldo (Tybalt), Lithuanian tenor Edgares Montividas, has a role to play among the other three characters, Manilo Benzi conducts, the director is Orpha Phelan and it opens on October 21.

Opera North's season starts next Friday with a revival of Christopher Alden's 2002 production of Puccini's Tosca with emergent American soprano Takesha Meshé Kizart in the title role. Rafael Rojas returns as Cavaradosi, Robert Hayward is Scarpia and it is sung in Italian.

Sung in German, there are also two concert performances in Leeds on December 11 and 14 of Richard Strauss' Elektra with Susan Bullock in the title role. It is conducted by Opera North's music director Richard Farnes.
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