The abrupt departure in the week of the opening of Opera Holland Park’s Susanna, Claire Meghnagi — her reason unspecified in the announcement to the first-night audience — left the company with just five days to hire and rehearse a successor in this key role.

A substitute was found in Jane Harrington. Although vocally prepared, having previously sung Susanna with Scottish Opera, she might have been expected to sing from the wings. In fact, she so quickly absorbed the details of the stage business demanded by director Liam Steele in his Downton Abbey-style production — including some dancing — that hers was a full and very successful performance.

There was a detectable rapport with her Figaro, Matthew Hargreaves, and a sensational account, with Elizabeth Llewellyn’s Countess, of the Act III ‘letter duet’ by the two sopranos (pictured right) with its sweet interweaving of their voices. Mr Hargreaves, incidentally — in a second subject for an announcement from the stage — was himself said not to be in tip-top condition vocally, though this might not have been noticed.

During an exceptionally lyrical interpretation of the score under conductor Matthew Willis, we are treated to impeccable singing by George von Bergen as the Count and a very impressive vocal performance by Hannah Pedley, as Cherubino, who for once also supplies a convincing visual picture of the randy page.

There are further performances tonight and on Saturday. Box office: 0300 999 1000 (www.operahollan