La clemenza di Tito

"DiDonato's Sesto is vibrant and memorable. So too is Marina Rebeka's Vitellia, a larger-than-life performance that right away establishes the volatility of the character ... The main idiosyncrasy is Villazón ... Some listeners will find his warm, passionate portrayal of the merciful emperor an antidote to the generic, antiseptic style in which Mozart can be played today; others will balk at his expressive tuning, and wonder why he sounds as if he is limbering up for Nessun Dorma".

Read review

"Med det fremragende barokorkester fra Freiburg har René Jacobs præsteret en af de absolut bedste Titus- indspilninger på cd-markedet i dag. Tempiene er så rislende, så levende, så dramatisk ude på kanten og orkesterklangen så sprød".

Read review

"Steinbergs eher defensive Musizierhaltung lenkt die Aufmerksamkeit ganz auf die Seelenqualen seines exzellenten Protagonisten-sextetts: Wir erleben ein grandioses Sängerfest mit der alles überragenden, unglaublich souveränen, mit schmerzlich dunklen Seelenetönen alle verzaubernden Vesselina Kasarova (als sesto) im Mittelpunkt".

"This latest account comes with the advantage of a strong female cast, with Véronique Gens a fine Vitella, and a commanding Sextus from Vesselina Kasarova ... However, Charles Castronovo's account of the title-role is rather wooden, and the Publius of Paolo Battaglia is vocally undistinguished".

"Der RIAS Kammerchor lieftert starke Akzente, das Mahler Chamber Orchestra verdient höchstes Lob für die fein züngelnden Flammen, auf denen es die Akteure röstet".

"Opera choice: Joyce DiDonato (Sesto) makes the most of this, her turmoil overwhelming us in its depth, refinement and constant shifts. Apart from her gorgeous voice, DiDonato possesses a grace perfect for the role ... Marina Rebeka (Vitellia) is DiDonato's ideal vocal and dramatic foil ... bringing Vitellia's imperiousness to life. Villazón is dignified and passionate in his title role ... The conductor has created a production that's as sensitive as it is exuberant".

"Det er et friskt og ungdommeligt ensemble, der står for denne opførelse, anført af ... Alessandro De Marchi ... Hans direktion har vel afbalancerede tempi og han går gerne frisk til sagen ... Carlo Allemanos Tito erstatter bel cantoet med en køn mørkfarvet timbre og deklamatorisk myndighed. Sangerne står stærkest på spindesiden med Kate Aldrichs Sesto som en klar gevinst ... Trods et lidt varierende kunstnerisk niveau må udgivelsen sammenlagt ... ses som et enestående og sjældent tilbageskuende indblik i en datidig opførelsespraksis med en række i dag forladte æstetiske friheder".

"It differs ... in presenting all the secco recitatives uncut. That in itself isn't necessarily a recommendation ... This is altogether a high-voltage performance ... As a dramatic experience, his [Jacobs] performance is undeniably impressive ... I shall be returning to Jacobs's version of this still underrated masterpiece often".