By Shirley Apthorp [Financial Times, 14 January 2010]

Hans Werner Henze himself heralded his 2003 L’Upupa, or the triumph of filial love as his last opera. Opfergang (Immolazione/The Sacrifice), given its world premiere in Rome on Sunday, follows 2007’s Phaedra. At 83, Henze is still composing. The 2003 health scare proved a false alarm. Thank goodness.