POLITICAL scandal, love affairs and a touch of magic are on offer next week when Welsh National Opera (WNO) arrives at Birmingham's Hippodrome Theatre with a trio of operas.

The varied programme begins on Tuesday, June 21, with Mozart's The Magic Flute, WNO's first production of the piece in 26 years. Sung in English, the production directed by the Royal Shakespeare Company's Dominic Cook stars soprano Rebecca Evans as Princess Pamina and Peter Wedd as heroic noble Prince Tamino. The opera is also performed on Friday, June 24.

In contrast, Verdi's Rigoletto (June 22 and 25) is set against the backdrop of the political intrigue of the 1960s Oval Office. Singing the title role in a revival of James Macdonald's 2002 production, is Australian baritone Jonathan Summers.

The trio of operas is completed with a special concert performance of Tchaikovsky's rarely performed work Iolanta on Thursday, June 23.

All performances take place at 7.15pm and tickets, priced £15-44 are available from the box office on 0870 730 1234 or online at www.birminghamhippodrome.com