"True, it's not dazzling subtle. Nor is Szymanowski's music, however, captured here by Antonio Pappano with superb attention to both the iridescent orchestration and - more tricky this - its theatrical energy. The orchestra play with silky finesse and the chorus are on especially dazzling form for the intoxicating climaxes ... Dipping into the extra feature on this release, in which Holten and Pappano discuss the work while it's performed, is rewarding ... The performances are all first-rate".