Belohlávek creates a proper sense of the numinous from the BBC Symphony Orchestra, above all in the solos of leader, harpist and two horns, exquisitely haloed. Belohlávek leaves us in no doubt that Smetana's subtle score, with its fascinating transitions between scenes, is a masterpiece. It's full of unusual harmonies and interesting, proto-Tchaikovskyan wind choruses.

If there's one conductor you want in this repertoire, it's Jiri Belohlávek... Samek is a pleasing Dalibor, not the most heroic tenor, but sweet-toned...Burašová makes a strong impression as Milada, especially in the Act 2 love duet...Polácková nearly steals the performance as Jitka...The playing of the BBC Symphony Orchestra is excellent; you'd almost have to pinch yourself to believe that you weren't listening to Belohlávek's Czech Philharmonic.

As Dalibor himself, Richard Samek has a golden, heroic tenor that does the job beautifully … The orchestra play this unfamiliar music with great skill, and the BBC Singers throw themselves into the work, both in spirit and in pronunciation.

The cast is thrillingly led by the bright star of a Dalibor...[Samek] looks set to become the most complete lyric-heroic Czech tenor for decades...Above all, this is Belohlavek’s triumph. Nobody knows better how to layer Smetana’s musical building blocks into an idiomatic, coherent edifice, sweeping us along with a concentration that is no less powerful for being so firmly controlled … a mighty reading which gives enormous satisfaction.

it is to be welcomed not only for the opera’s rarity, but for its thrilling performance in splendid modern sound. A key feature of this series’s success has been the engagement of singers from Prague, and the outstanding artistry of Dana Buresova figures again: imperious as Milada, yet capable of tenderness and poetry, she is the star. The BBC forces give their all for their former chief conductor; Richard Samek is heroic in the title role; and Alzbeta Polackova and Ales Vorasek charm as the youthful couple Jitka and Vitek

a performance as gloriously idiomatic as this…shows how much we have all been missing and makes a full staging of the work all the more urgent … Jiri Belohlavek it finds its ideal interpreter: the conductor has the lightest but firmest of touches, never allowing the pageantry to degenerate into bombastic pomp and circumstance but giving full rein to all the noble ardour that palpitates through the score. The BBC Symphony Orchestra plays with elegant clarity and a keen sense of drama, while the cast of native Czech singers is a revelation … The BBC Singers make a fervent contribution too … [an] admirable recording

Belohlavek’s championing of Dalibor ensures a passionate performance and the BBC Symphony Orchestra plays with style. The singers are classy too.