Such is the emotional commitment of the two musicians, the sense of immediacy in the recording, and the lush, dynamic playing...that by the time we reach the end it is quite possible to forget that we have not been listening to ‘the real thing’. Bravi, van Bellen and Halvorsen, for this ravishing achievement.

here’s the thing: it takes absolutely nothing away from Puccini’s miraculous score. On the contrary, through musicianship that at times takes the breath away, the pair’s reworking achieves an astonishing (and deeply affecting) fullness and richness. Never do you feel a lack of narrative heft or emotional engagement.