Hervé Niquet’s musical direction is admirably fluent. The orchestral playing and choral singing are magnificent throughout in a suitably resonant recording…Katherine Watson as Mérope stands out among the women and Tassis Christoyannis’s Phinée is always compelling

This fascinating intersection of Lulliste reception and cultural and political history comes alive in Hervé Niquet’s vibrant recording made in the Royal Opera at Versailles. Katherine Watson’s jealous Mèrope, Tassis Christoyannis’s villainous Phinée, Marie Kalinine’s bitter Méduse, Hélène Guilmette’s anguished Andromède and Mathias Vidal’s full-blooded Persée all sing with spirited commitment

The performance, given added authenticity by being recorded in Opera Royal at Versaillies, is largely excellent, especially where Niquet and his forces become caught up in the dramatic momentum of such passages as the end of Act 3.

Lully's tragédie lyrique crackles with dramatic energy in this taut, pacy account from Niquet and a largely Francophone cast, who sing with full-blooded commitment; Marie Kalinine is a voluptuous Mèduse, Katherine Watson sings with real pathos as the ill-fated Mérope, and high tenor Mathias Vidal swashbuckles with style as the eponymous hero.

The singers are excellent, the playing is alive to the drama… it’s the first complete recording of the 1770 revival of Lully’s Persee.