[Dantone] draws idiomatic, sharply articulated playing from his crack ensemble. Outstanding among the cast are Sara Mingardo, who paints the role of Statira with an expressive palette of colours, Delphine Galou, a dangerously seductive Argene, and Lucia Cirillo, who conveys the calculated passions of Oronte with impeccable control.

Carlo Allemano, a little dry of voice, makes Darius both formidable and amusing. His rivals are well contrasted…[Galou and Mingardo] sing like angels. Ottavio Dantone gest zestful playing from his non-period orchestra. I enjoyed this a lot.

Everyone sings stylishly and manages florid passages with little difficulty. Most consistently excellent vocally is the baritone Riccardo Novaro as the courtier Niceno. Ottavio Dantone has the Regio orchestra playing with the precision, clean timbre and incisiveness more often found in fine orginal-instrument ensembles.