Vocal and musical standards are high. From the doom-laden opening bars of the prelude onwards, Antonio Pappano’s conducting is masterly, offering one of the best accounts available. Carlos Álvarez looks deeply into the title-role, providing a searching interpretation of the great monologue ‘Pari siamo’ in his complex and vocally tireless reading.

Alvarez’s baritone is hefty and impressive… technically she [Oropesa] is faultless, and Avetisyan’s lightish tenor is fluent and persuasive: their voices blend exquisitely. Antonio Pappano’s conducting matches the production for light and shade, and the playing is first-rate.