This is one of the supreme 20th-century operas, perhaps the greatest opera ever written in English.

It is often thought to be Verdi's greatest opera.

Many musicians think it is the greatest opera of the 19th century.

It is one of the greatest operas of the 20th century.

I regard it as one of the greatest operas ever created".

It is the greatest opera I have ever written.

Unlike the greatest operas (in whatever medium), it inspires you to gasp, but not to weep.

It is considered one of Moniuszko's greatest operas.

Yet this remains a powerful realization of Tchaikovsky's greatest opera.

It is usually thought to be his greatest opera and one of the best of all Russian operas.