Andri Björn Róbertsson was a delightfully slime-ball Don Basilio. Björn Róbertsson used his height and physical flexibility to maximum comic effect, which only served to heighten his contributions to the various ensemble and make his calumny aria a masterpiece of comic timing, combined with Björn Róbertsson's fabulously dark bass-baritone voice.
Of the main principals, however, the strongest performance comes from Grant Doyle, whose baritone is masterly and who cannot help but make us feel sorry for Dr Bartolo as all of his assertions on how he cannot be outwitted are proven wrong.
Mariam Battistelli as Norina demands attention with her racy soprano - she is the perfect mixture of alluring feminine charm, devilish mischief and fiery temper.
And Battistelli, where do you start? I, along with everyone else, was blown away by her vocal fireworks and exquisite trills. Throw in some fantastic comic timing and she’s a stage diva I’d watch again and again.