Les Talens Lyriques reveals the baleful splendours of Salieri's writing under Christophe Rousset. Judith van Wanroij's Hymnestre is fesity but in places could do with more power. Tassis Christoyannis's firm Danaüs makes an impressive use of text, while Philippe Talbot is lyrically agile as Lyncée.

Les Danaides gives the impression of hurtling momentum and heated emotion, even when the dramatic action pauses. It suits Rousset's urgent conducting style uncommonly well. The fever-pitch atmopshere is wonderfully maintained. Les Talens Lyriques sound dark, baleful and at time raw, and the choral singing is thrillingly committed and focused.

The present recording stems from a series of performances given in France during 2013. It represents yet another impressive feather in Christophe Rousset’s already handsomely adorned cap, a supremely well-played performance of huge dramatic compulsion that projects not only burning, thrusting conviction, but also empathy for the tender lyricism of the scenes between Hypermnestre and her lover Lyncée.

Judith van Wanroij (Hypermnestra), Tassis Christoyannis (Danaüs) and Philippe Talbot (Lyncaeus) [are] superb in their declamation of Salieri’s grand accompanied recits. Rousset, steeped in the tragédie lyrique tradition, is the ideal conductor.

it all coheres convincingly in this performance...with imposing choral contributions from Les Chantres du Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles, and the usual fiercely involved playing from Les Talens Lyriques...Judith van Wanroij ensures that Hypermnestra’s agonies of loyalty are the pivots on which the drama turns. Immaculately presented, this is an operatic rarity that’s worth investigating.

Christophe Rousset conducts an unfailingly spirited reading, and there is full-blooded and stylish singing from Judith van Wanroij, Philippe Talbot and Tassis Christoyannis in the leading roles. The CDs are contained inside a limited edition book, containing scholarly essays illuminating the opera’s background.