"Musically - particularly vocally - we are on very strong ground, without graves. Kate Royal is, hands down, the Pamina for the ages ... Pavol Breslik, equally charming ... uses his perfectly Mozartean sound with sensitivity ... Sir Simon's leadership is a bit shy ... One revels in the CPO's lushly beautiful playing ... So, despite the glories of Royal and Breslik, the Levine from Salzburg/1982 is better, the Colin Davis-led Covent Garden production, though very serious, is best".