Beauty's final aria (sung by Natalie Dessay) is unconventionally slow and intensely moving, accompanied by obbligato violin possibly intended for Corelli who may have led the first performance. Haïm is generally more elegant, though no less exciting, while the... sound is excellent. Technically superb, reassuringly stylish, this is an outstanding performance of Handel at the height of his powers.

Emmanuelle Haïm performed the work at the Barbican in London, in March 2005. The cast, apart from Natalie Dessay, was identical to the one on the disc. “Emmanuelle Haïm's performance with her ensemble Le Concert d'Astrée was a thing of wonder: at once profound, sensual, witty and immaculate. The singing was phenomenal. A gorgeous evening, every second of it.