The Swiss composer shaped his only full opera with complete assurance...Thierry Fischer controls all the elements with a sure hand in this recording with a strong cast

The cast is a fine one, not least Robert Holl's authoritative Prospero...and Christine Buffle's wide-eyed Miranda...Thierry Fischer secures a committed response from the Netherlands Radio forces, burnished strings and incisive woodwind heard to advantage in the fabled Concertgebouw acoustic...A near-definitive account of an opera whose take on The Tempest has yet to be equalled for sensitivity and insight.

...a score of such luminous beauty, and such a sure sense of dramatic timing, that it's a mystery that we've had to wait until now to hear it in its entirety...the singing is consistently sensitive and secure and it's matched by the superb playing of the Netherlands [RSO]. Fischer's conducting is quite magnificent: full of attention to detail and ideally paced too...the result is a major operatic release that is not only distinguished but also truly inspiring.

It's a beautifully organised score with some striking moments...This recording – the first ever of the complete work – certainly serves it well...Robert Holl is a bass rather than baritone, but invests the role [of Prospero] with great humanity. Christine Buffle appeals as Miranda, and the supporting cast, including James Gilchrist as Antonio and Simon O'Neill as Ferdinand, is also impressive.

This piece demands to be heard – it’s unshowy, tautly constructed and often heartbreaking. Excellent notes and a full libretto are provided. What are you waiting for?