By Richard Fairman [Financial Times, 14 September 2010]

The management of the Royal Opera must have double vision at the moment. While the company is away on its first tour to Japan for 18 years, the autumn season is simultaneously opening at the Royal Opera House. On Sunday, with performances of La traviata in Yokohama and Don Pasquale in London, the Royal Opera miraculously managed to be in two places at the same time.