You want a beautifully lit set, dripping with chiaroscuro mystery? Roll right up. Fabulous singing? Step this way, ladies and gentlemen. Some not-so-fabulous singing as well? We have that, too. And you'd like some horrific conducting? It's a deal.

Yes, this revival of David McVicar's handsome production of Mozart's Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) is a mixed bag.

On the plus side, Paule Constable's lighting, with its mysterious beams shooting into dark spaces, is as glorious as ever. And McVicar's mix of 18th-century tropes and sly modern references proves a reliably thoughtful take on Mozart's Masonic fairy tale.

With his gorgeous voice and Mozartian elegance, tenor Pavol Breslik as Tamino is pure gold, and Christopher Maltman (Papageno) and Kishani Jayasinghe (Papagena) are delightful, too.

But with a vocally and theatrically insecure Queen Of The Night, Three Boys who can't act and some train-wreck conducting from Roland Boer, the evening often lollops into disaster.

For many, soprano Royal (Pamina) will provide the antidote - and there's no doubting her meltingly rich sound and excellent acting. But she's chosen a full-on romantic approach, and I can't help feeling that classical simplicity would have been better.

In rep until Mar 1 (next perf tomorrow), Royal Opera House, Bow Street WC2, 7.30pm (Mar 1 7pm), mat Feb 23 12.30pm, £7 to £165 (limited availability). Tel: 020 7304 4000. www.royalopera.org Tube: Covent Garden