If you are looking for a sure-fire pleaser at the Fringe try Opera! Pop Goes the Opera is celebrating its tenth year at the Fringe with a remount of the beautiful one act play Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni. With a live ensemble of gifted musicians under the baton of talented Maestra Kimberley Taylor-McMann the sublime music fills the sanctuary of the Holy Trinity Anglican Church and instantly you are transported to mid-twentieth century Italy, immersed in a tale of love, betrayal, and revenge. The singing is magnificent. Mezzo-soprano Alla Salakhova delivers an absolutely stellar performance, her voice laden with emotion in every note. And Italian tenor Andrea Pinna is a perfect fit for Turiddu – caught up in a forbidden love he can’t escape. Bertrand Malo's mellifluous baritone is a fine match for both. The chorus too is remarkable – they deliver the hymn that fills the church so you actually feel like you are there, on Easter Sunday, celebrating the holy day. It’s a short opera that will have you leaving the church humming, and craving more. Cavalleria Rusticana is the world’s most famous one act opera, and this production certainly does a masterful job showcasing its power. What a beautiful production! Great value for your fringe dollars!