Operas you must hear before you die

The list author says:
	"An obvious first choice, but if you don't already know this, do yourself a favour and take the week off to change that"

The list author says:
	"Fairy tale meets nightmare - the 5th door will blow you into the next room"

The list author says:
	"Not only a great performance of a perfect opera, but one of the greatest feats of recording ever achieved"

The list author says:
	"The final scene as the nuns are guillotined one by one (yes, really!) is amazing"

The list author says:
	"The opera that nearly got its composer executed"

The list author says:
	"The greatest opera you've never even heard of"

The list author says:
	"Don't let the fact that it's in mono put you off, it only adds to the smothering claustrophobia"

The list author says:
	"A unique, baffling, enhralling piece of ritual theatre"

The list author says:
	"Two hours of musical decadence - you'll need a lie down afterwards"

The list author says:
	"expands its space to create a ritualized mystery play of epic proportions"