Hamlet

"Much of his music is occupied with musical scene painting to reinforce the Medieval, Danish setting. The production team has attempted to make this more relevant to today's audiences by setting it in a modern urban milieu that is sleek-looking but rather cold in manner. By not accepting French grand opera for what it truly is, you are left with all of your attention focused on the failure of Thomas and his librettists to effectively animate Shakespeare's story ... The recording engineers have captured this major revival in truly splendid sound, and the video quality is of the highest standard. I will be returning to listen to this wonderful recording again but most likely with the television turned off".

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"Editor's choice: [Degout] gives one of his greatest performances here, marvellously sung and acted ... It's an extraordinary achievement. Devieilhe makes an outstanding Ophélie, touching and vulnerable, her coloratura dazzlingly precise but never vacuously showy ... Langrée really knows how to make this music live and breathe, and the playing, choral singing and recorded sound are all exemplary. Buy it and watch it, above all for Degout, who is unmissable and unforgettable".

"Vurdering: Diapason d'or".