The cast is solid. The title-role has strong possibilities which soprano Lenneke Ruiten regularly seizes, among them the opera’s close, when Armida’s destructive fury reaches its apogee. Teresa Iervolino deploys her vividly dramatic mezzo as her confidante, Ismene. Florie Valiquette’s sweet soprano is well cast in the (originally castrato) role of the errant knight Rinaldo, while Ashley Riches is thoroughly engaged as his friend Ubaldo.

There is nothing to say about the performance other than it is uniformly excellent. As usual the Talens Lyriques, under the capable direction of Christophe Rousset, performs with power and, where needed, grace. Salieri’s opera is filled with fabulous music, excellent orchestration, and good technical skill that is both powerful and emotional.

Lenneke Ruiten and Florie Valiquette blend perfectly. The latter makes a magnificent Rinaldo...[Ruiten's] singing is brilliant, touching and unfailingly lovely...The 20-strong Namur Chamber Choir, whether cavorting rustically or threatening demonically, provide excellent support...The richness and beauty of the playing, under the unerring direction of Christophe Rousset, is beyond praise.

[Rousset] has produced a quite outstanding addition, distinguished not only by the superb orchestral playing that unfailingly characterizes the work of Les Talens Lyriques but also a fine cast led by two sopranos that are less familiar names among artists working with Rousset.

An intense love drama involving just four characters, it is perfectly performed by the soloists together with the orchestra Les Talens Lyriques and the Choeur de Chambre de Namur. The opera was premiered in 1771 in Vienna, and 250 years later we are grateful to Christophe Rousset for providing the opportunity to listen to this fantastic recording of a true masterpiece by the young Salieri.