"Laurent Pelly's 2012 Covent Garden production ... was less succesful, experiencing numerous casting alterations and not much liked by the critics ... His staging ... offers a garishly coloured satirical romp through the original, rather than a serious exposition of its themes ... Meyerbeer's vocal writing demands virtuoso singing , and receives that here. Bryan Hymel hurls himself unstintingly at the title role, impossible high notes and all. Marina Poplavskaya suggests the spiritual inspiration of Alice ... Daniel Oren's conducting needs more conviction. Overall, it's a mixed result".
