although the master of Russian and French ballet was a rare and reluctant opera conductor, his love for German music reveals…a stream of prepared and calculated insights to refresh curious Wagnerites…the sound does credit to Monteux's work with the orchestra whose assistant chief he once was. Together with much else of his retrospectively released concert Wagner, this new set deserves serious attention

Monteux’s steady Tannhäuser overture embodies a keen grasp of the piece’s structure as well as separating out its instrumental strands with finesse; paradoxically, it’s a compelling reading partly due to its refusal constantly to attempt to overawe the listener. Similarly the overall tone of the Siegfried Idyll is redolent of warmth and gentleness, innocence and domestic charm.