Much Courage Alfredo Catalani's 'La Wally' - reviewed by ROBERT ANDERSON 'This Tyrolean team has made fine music ...'

Catalani died far too young, but at least he was able to launch one repertoire opera, unlike the recent scores of slaughtered Middle East children. If you wish, dear reader, to have any idea what this opera is about, the La Wally booklet will offer scant assistance. We are told the heroine loves scaling mountain cliffs to gather eagle eggs, and that she abseils down to rescue a near moribund lover. A mere glance at the otherwise admirable Susanna von der Burg suggests the instant heartfelt advice: 'Don't think of it, dear lady.'

ALFREDO CATALANI

ITALY

CAPRICCIO

AUSTRIA