…half the pleasure of this disc is the contribution of the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, with Sir Charles Mackerras setting the perfect pace for Così's great terzettino… Best of all, perhaps, are Terfel's own excited discoveries: the priceless 'Cat duet', with Persson again, from Der Stein der Weisen; his noble and tender valediction in the concert aria, 'Io ti lascio, oh cara'... the totally authenticated nonsense sorcery, 'Diggi, daggi' from Bastien und Bastienne;...

Technically he can't be faulted -his performances appear absolutely effortless -and he conveys so much emotion and expression that you can almost see the tilt of his head, the glint in his eye.