Roberto Devereux / Bluebeard, Buxton Festival, Buxton

Although Donizetti's gripping re-telling of the Elizabeth-Essex saga is based on the Queen of England, there were two stars in Buxton Festival's Roberto Devereux. Mary Plazas sings Elizabetta, displaying her versatility as a singing actress in this bloody tragedy. But in the role of Sara – the unfortunate "other woman" locked in to the geometry of passion, jealousy, fate and revenge – Buxton allowed itself luxury casting in Susan Bickley.

Both shine: Plazas successfully (and seemingly effortlessly) negotiates her virtuoso role with its range, ornamentation and – in the closing "Vivi, ingrato" – expansive yet restrained emotion. Bickley not only irradiates her role with pathos and subdued passion; she performs regally. In one of the best-sung shows in the festival's history, Bickley is matched by David Kempster's darkly raging Duke of Nottingham, her husband, and Todd Wilander makes a strong impression as the tenor lead, Roberto Devereux, Earl of Essex.

Francis O'Connor's heavy metal, minimalist set contains the action within distressed mirrored walls, the whole stage atmospherically lit. During the overture, with its use of "God Save the Queen", Elizabetta is seen, vulnerable in undergarments, wandering around, her royal robes hanging on a metal mannequin. The stiffness of royal protocol is reflected in the chorus of courtiers and ladies-in-waiting, whose actions are choreographed in striking tableaux.

Andrew Greenwood, the festival's new artistic director, draws authoritative playing from the Northern Chamber Orchestra, and, under Stephen Medcalf's direction, this magnificent, razor-sharp Roberto Devereux – sung in Italian – lacks nothing in intensity.

Offenbach's operetta Bluebeard, a frothy confection with moments of comic horror and suspense, could scarcely be in greater contrast. Much of its success is down to a brilliant new translation by Kit Hesketh-Harvey. Topical cracks and risqué jokes help along the tale of the serial bigamist who, having murdered five wives, seeks a sixth – and a seventh. Wyn Davies conducts a jolly production that looks as good as it sounds.

Imelda Drumm sings robustly as Boulotte. As Bluebeard, Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts turns in a lead of engaging comic badness. Supporting parts are excellent. A romp with kick, this Bluebeard bubbles with boulevardier sophistication.

Both operas in rep to 22 July (0845 127 2190)