To Thaīs herself Erin Wall brings a clean, pliant soprano used with discretion and judgement…Dark of presence, Joshua Hopkins makes a vehement Athanaël…Davis presents a perceptive account of one of Massenet’s best creations, the Canadian orchestra offering fine-textured playing as they respond with assurance to the composer’s unerring gift for scene painting…It surpasses many earlier efforts not only in terms of casting and conducting, but also in taking one of Massenet’s finest scores seriously.

[Davis's] understanding of Massenet’s often deliberate blurring of the dividing line between sensual and spiritual experience is unquestionably acute. The playing is excellent, with a refined sensuousness of texture throughout…[Hopkins's] is a remarkable, unforgettable performance, sung with consistently expressive beauty, and quite superbly characterised.

Davis has the truly excellent players of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra supporting him with burnished tone and precision. The various sections of the orchestra are rendered with clarity and spaciousness in Chandos’ superb engineering job; the finest on any recording to date.

The sound is sumptuous, and the playing of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra is rich and refined…[Wall's] is a beautiful instrument, with an appealing shimmer to it, and it’s a serious and moving assumption that seeks to flesh out the character into more than just a caricature of carefree exotic charm. She has opposite her a fine Athanaël in the form of Joshua Hopkins; he has a big, handsome-sounding baritone and sings generously.