The virtues of this staging lie in individual performances and in the music-making, with the Royal Opera House Orchestra and chorus giving taut and committed interpretations under Antonio Pappano. Sonya Yoncheva provides a remarkably accomplished traversal of the intimidating title-role, combining poise with a realisation of the tragic scale involved. Joseph Calleja makes an eloquent Pollione.

Yoncheva is fearless although not flawless…Her ‘Casta diva’, delivered as a wistful daydream of lost love, convinces, and Yoncheva’s seductive tone is consistently beguiling…Pappano is in typically robust form…and you can admire how orchestra and chorus capture a heady, even cloying quality to Bellini’s rapt score…Calleja is in good voice, a generous and graceful singer who generates genuine pathos.

Musically there are rewards. Sonya Yoncheva exhibits a clean timbre, her performance is not flashy, but she is fully up to the role's demands, and brings authority and dramatic sense to the declamation. 'Casta Diva' is careful but faultless. Joseph Calleja also makes a solid role dubt as Pollione, a high role in which the singer has to find a balance between heroic diplay and elegant bel canto He fares very well, and slowly relaxes throughout the performance. Antonio Pappano's conducting leaves no room for langour, and he supports the singer's carefully, never allowing enthusiasm of the orchestra to crush the voices.