There is some uneven sound with some weird voice placement, and Dominique Visse's voice is for my liking too reedy with some harshness. The few flaws out of the way, the live performance of Montezuma benefits from a number of strong things. While not the most authentic of baroque music performances, the orchestral playing is dynamic and stylish and helped by musical and faithful-to-style conducting. Isabelle Poulenard and Danielle Borst both show some wonderful colouratura singing, some of the strongest I've heard recently, while Brigitte Baileys sings beautifully and gives a very commanding performance in a dramatic sense. Nicolas Rivenq has a warm tone that is steadier than it would become later. The sense of drama throughout is of a high standard. Overall, a rewarding live performance if not perfect.
8/10 Bethany Cox
8/10 Bethany Cox
