Vivid detail and clear choral textures come over quite stunningly on both formats, but the Blu-ray has the edge...Sally Matthews doesn't quite catch the ethereal quality Gardiner's Barbara Bonney radiates...but is still superb and the other soloists hardly less so, especially Mark Padmore's restrained but moving Narrator...the LSO chorus sing with arresting fervour. A pleasure to recommend.

There's no hiding either Rattle's eloquent advocacy of the work or the encouraging signs regarding his rapport with the orchestra, who play superbly for him. Phrases are invariably beautifully turned, and there is evidence of real care having been taken throughout.

You can really tell that Rattle loves this work. His approach is full of affection — listen to the care he lavishes on the stunning ending of Part Two — but also architectural breadth.

Stylistically it often sounded to me like a hybrid of Brahms's German Requiem and Mendelssohn's Elijah...The whole piece is narrated by tenor Mark Padmore, and he is in quite extraordinary voice here: the hushed passage where he describes the Peri arriving in a plague-stricken land is nothing short of spine-tingling, with an amazingly mournful horn solo, so simple on the page and yet when brought to life by such expert players as the LSO it becomes an astonishingly poignant moment.

the LSO’s playing, and especially the singing of the chorus, bristles with the ardour of a new love affair, and the mawkish Victorian morality of a Peri banished from Paradise, who wins re-entry at a third attempt by presenting the gods with the remorseful tear of a sinner, is brought vividly to life.

Mr. Magen’s playing is always responsive and richly colored.

Rattle’s ability to elicit delicate sonorities turns the entire three-part, ninety-minute oratorio into one gently undulating statement. [The soloists] shine as an ensemble, their massed efforts well-blended and musicianly, projecting a real sense that they have entered into the corporate spirit of this remarkable performance.

it’s the vivid intimacy of the best recitals that Rattle, his players and choice cast achieves here. Matthews is utterly convincing in the taxing role of the Peri, Padmore a forthright, crystalline Narrator, while the quartet of Kate Royal, Bernarda Fink, Andrew Staples and Florian Boesch is luxury casting

The LSO shows its delicate and soulful side… the Chorus is at its best and convinces by its presence… This is a very good recording which, by force, dynamism and sensibility, does entirely justice to this wonderful romantic work.