Maestro Carminati looks an amiable, gentle soul as he enters the pit but he unleashes a firestorm of tension and passion in the big duets and his judicious tempi bind Donizetti's not-so-easy recitatives into flowing music-drama. Ganassi is in superb fettle throughout, encompassing both power and agility...An outstanding release, and a great relief to be removed from the static period costume displays normally inflicted on this drama.

Carminati leads La Fenice's orchestra in a powerful reading yet with a supportive flow of sound in more reflective passages. All the acrimony, antagonism and enmity can be felt...Ganassi makes a strong figure, strongly sung, her voice full toned as she encompasses the scalework of her opening aria...[Cedolins] brings a dramatic intensity to her performance.

the musical performance, starting in the pit with a vivid, dynamic and elegant performance conducted by Fabrizio Maria Carminati...Sonia Ganassi and Fiorenza Cedolins spit marvellous poison...Donizetti's surprising efficiency in conveying conflicted motives is really well caught in the ensembles, and Mirco Palazzi is a really powerful Talbot.