Kožená’s Melisande has a firm streak of red-blooded coquettish defiance that is effective, even if it belies the character’s customary blanched fragility. Christian Gerhaher’s Pélleas is similarly finely sung, if a little too knowing…There is a palpable sense of unfolding drama that is realised, not just imagined…All of this is only possible thanks to the inspired playing of the London Symphony Orchestra under Rattle, with superb characterisation from the woodwind.

Rattle maintains both a clear pulse in individual scenes and a through line which positively celebrates Debussy’s and Maeterlinck’s radical intercutting of scenes of varied physical and emotional locations in the central acts. The LSO’s playing throughout is at a high level of virtuosity...Gerhaher and Kožená are good at not over-egging the pudding of their confusions and naiveties...Finley manages to make Golaud’s rages frightening without the ‘evil’ melodrama that bigger, darker voices have brought to the role...an early jewel in the crown of Simon Rattle’s assumption of the principal conductorship of the LSO.

His interpretation shares many of the strengths of Boulez’s own accounts, such as the meticulous shifts of mood and colour...One of the new recording’s great strengths lies in Rattle’s knack of balancing stillness and urgency; another is his gift for psychological drama. The huge orchestral forces don’t so much support or react to the characters as become one with them, much as a great lied-pianist does with their singer.

Rattle achieves a miraculous translucence of texture without sacrificing drama. Gerald Finley’s intense Golaud is the star here, but Christian Gerhaher and Magdalena Kozena are both substantial in the title roles.

It’s not a definitive performance...but it is an exceptionally vivid one, not least thanks to the expressiveness of [Kožená and Gerhaher]...Under Rattle’s leadership the orchestra is a true protagonist in the drama; the colours of this great score are constantly evolving, intensifying and receding, and the interludes are wonderfully well played.