…the opera is not without its problems. Staffan Holm's solution is simple but effective, with a staging, set in the beautiful Ridehuset (Riding School) in Copenhagen, treating the opera as a modern mystery play where church members (who have a 19th-century feel) come together to act out this moralistic fable, the sect leader - who takes the role of Lucifer - assigning the roles. Lucifer only sings in the prologue but is choreographed throughout, watching and pulling strings. ...once Susanne Resmark takes centre stage as Despondency in Scene 3, the whole concept comes together. The cast is very strong... but greatest plaudits go to Thomas Dausgaard for moulding the superb accompaniment...

“Thomas Dausgaard leads an absolutely magnificent performance in all respects. It's also beautifully recorded in unobtrusively natural surround-sound (or stereo), with subtitles in English, French, German, Spanish, and Danish--and Dacapo's booklet notes are outstandingly informative.”