Good old British autumn rain is falling at last; the newly installed ice rink is deep and crisp and outdoors at the Eye of York; and the Grand Opera House stage will be transformed into a Japanese water garden on November 30.

That evening, impresario Ellen Kent and Opera International present the Ukrainian National Opera of Odessa in a sold-out 7.30pm performance of Puccini's Madama Butterfly. This is a return visit for this traditionally staged production of Puccini's tale of passion and tragedy, sung in Italian, with English surtitles, plus that water garden, waterfalls and aquariums filled with golden fish.

In a week of one-night stands at the Opera House, tribute act Mercury pay tribute to Freddie Mercury and the music of Queen on Tuesday at 8pm; Maddy Prior and the Carnival Band present Carols & Capers on Wednesday at 7.30pm; Irishman Dominic Kirwan sings ballads, country and rock'n'roll on Thursday at 7.45pm; and Sweet Home Chicago adds to the bottomless well of Blues Brothers tributes on Friday, led by soul singers Eddy Stacy and Pete Tobit at 7.30pm.

Tickets: 0870 606 3595.

Updated: 10:14 Friday, November 28, 2003