Throughout the first act the music is invariably charming, but it rarely escapes the niceties of late 18th-century opera comique...Nevertheless the work is well served by this CD...This is an excellent ensemble performance with tight and responsive orchestra accompaniment which rises with gusto to the more modest challenges of the second act...None of the soloists fall short.

Catel's scores wafts along decorously at first...But the music gains in stature as the plot unfurls...Didier Talpain draws punchy if slightly relentless playing from the combined forces of Solamente Naturali and Musica Florea. There are fine soloists, too, led by Philippe Do's eloquent, clean-voiced Démaly and Chantal Santon's Lamea.

The singing and playing are enjoyable, with special mention for Chantal Santon as Lamea...Why is this soprano with her full, rounded voice not better known?...Another good piece of casting is that of the resonant baritone Andre Heyboer as the conquering Olkar...I find after listening to this recommendable performance that the opera does not deserve to languish in obscurity.

Démaly is sung rather carefully by Phillippe Do, while Andre Heyboer is strong and stern as the villainous Olkar; three favourites (inevitably reminiscent of the Three Ladies in the Flute) are appealingly sung by Katia Velletaz, Jennifer Borghi and Melodie Ruvio. Much of Catel’s score is purely charming, but he is invariably skilful and rises to the greater dramatic challenges of the later scenes with considerable aplomb; as a whole it qualifies as a worthwhile rediscovery, and the conductor Didier Talpain highlights both its grace and its refined sensibility.