Opera

Disc of the Month 'Gergiev’s Bluebeard passes beyond shattering into a realm even more deeply disturbing’ Opera Magazine

Opera Choice of the Month 'Gergiev an his superlative forces and vocal soloists, supported by magnificent sound quality, present the enigmatic piece with great power' BBC Music Magazine

'All the restless qualities of the underlying and shadowy string themes are sketched in an appropriately unsettling way. Vitally for this score, the woodwind figures add their eerie colours and decorative dissonance to great effect, the clarinet making a particularly telling contribution – wonderful playing... Orchestral textures are remarkably clear and Bartók’s highly individual percussive effects make their full impact. Gergiev is most considerate to his singers, even at the most grandiose and loud moments' Classicalsource.com

ffff Télérama

La Clef ‘Elena Zhidkova possède des moyens immenses, à la mesure du rôle, tout en possédant la juvénilité nécessaire. Le vibrato est maîtrisé, les aigus triomphants, bref, une Judith idéale. A ses cotés, Sir Willard White est un habitué du rôle, dont il est, à l’heure actuelle, un des principaux défenseurs’ ResMusica (France)