Il Giasone

"Als Parodie den Kastraten als Sexobjekt, willig exekutiert von dem klanglich makellosen, beherzt spielenden Christophe Dumaux. Der Franzose ist einer der Höhepunkte in Francesco Cavallis in Antwerpen aufgeseichneter Oper Il Giasone von 1648 ... Und Federico Maria Sardelli dirigiert das erstaunlich stilsichere Opernorchester mit Esprit und Drive".

"The most-performed opera in the whole 17th century ... The upshot is a surreal mix of ancient and modern ... Christophe Dumaux convinces both in amorous mode and in his scene of drowsy remorse ... Katarina Bradic's visually alluring Medea, by turn sex-kitten and formidable dominatrix, has the necessary mezzo depth for the role ... The Orchestra of Flemish Opera play with plenty of rhythmic zest. Federico Maria Sardelli paces the opera well ... I would emphatically recommend this lively and musically convincing DVD of Cavalli's operatic masterpiece".

"The current catalogue [of Cavalli opera] contains just five productions ... The complicated plot unfolds in three hours of music, of which perhaps as much as 75 per cent is recitative that only occasionally rivets the listener ... The best musical numbers come in Act 3 ... Mariam Clement's mise en scène does nothing to illuminate the work ... The single portrayal worth remembering is countertenor Christophe Dumaux's glorious Giasone ... The result, however, severely disappoints".