The chorus and line-up of soloists is first-rate, with a suitably menacing Abramane (Tassis Christoyannis) and a witchy Érinice (Véronique Gens)...The instrumental numbers (notably the sarabands) are beautifully done, with the weather – lashings of thunder and lightning – forcefully dramatised throughout.

[Kossenko] He leads the performance with a sure hand, with energy and a strong rhythmic profile, with pacing that is forward-moving but never hurried and that allows the listener to savor the details of the score.

Zoroastre is a light tenor, sung with versatility by Reinoud Van Mechelen. Véronique Gens and Jodie Devos are two of the well-contrasted sopranos, and the Choeur de Chambre de Namur adds choral class to a fine, uplifting performance.

With his effortless top notes and superb breath control, the haute-contre Reinoud Van Mechelen makes an ideal Zoroastre…another triumph.

Throughout Kossenko obtains excellent orchestral playing, in addition to which the work from the Namur chorus is outstanding. Kossenko is also fortunate in having an exceptionally strong cast featuring a felicitous mix of luminaries of the French early music scene and younger singers...this is an unusually important issue, convincingly demonstrating, as is so often the case, that a composer’s first thoughts are generally the best.