MASTERMIND and University Challenge aren't a patch on the mental tortures dreamed up by cruel Chinese Princess Turandot.

Most mortals could cope with a withering look from John Humphrys and Jeremy Paxman - but having your head chopped off in front of a baying crowd is a completely different matter.

In Puccini's stirring opera, which was his last work, mythical Peking is obsessed with Turandot's riddles - a bit like the tabloids when I'm A Celebrity is on the telly.

Many men have tried to solve the brutal brain-teasers and paid the ultimate price.

Black and white photos of them line designer Paul Steinberg's stark, claustrophobic set. The pictures were disconcerting to say the least and reminded me of the desperate faces of hostages in Iraq.

Step up brave Prince Calaf who is seemingly undeterred by the sorry sight of the Prince of Persia on his way to an early grave.

Blinded by love for the stunning Turandot, he strikes the gong like a man possessed to signal his foolish intentions.

The crowd lick their lips at the prospect of another state killing but looking on in bemusement are imperial ministers Ping, Pang and Pong. Their bright green, yellow and electric blue outfits contrast with Calaf's all-black ensemble and Turandot's purple velvet and in a witty scene at the start of Act II, the trio laments China's demise and recounts the number of men already killed. How many more will follow?

The Emperor, who is clearly too old for this kind of nonsense, also wants the show trials to stop and unsuccessfully calls on Calaf to abandon his quest. But the Prince is made of stern stuff...

WNO's powerful production nails you to your seat. Rafeal Rojas and Cynthia Makris are excellent leads and they receive strong support from Olga Mykytenko as Liu, a loyal slave girl.

Matthew Hargraves, Philip Lloyd Holtam and Anthony Mee as the imperial ministers provide welcome moments of light relief from the otherwise grim proceedings.

WNO return to the Hippodrome in the spring with Cavalleria rusticana and Pagliacci, La traviata and Wozzeck.

TP