The instrumental and choral numbers could be from 50 years later…Rousset’s fierce energy and musical intelligence unleashes the fire, colours and grandeur of Salieri’s drama. But the dearth of lyricism in this opera stymies solo singers and the creation of character…Judith van Wanroij shines as Camille, urgent in her recitative and searing in her calls to resistance.

The orchestral playing abounds with incisive theatrical momentum and an affinity for gracefully shaped harmonic details.

The opera’s weaknesses are disguised as much as is possible by Christoph Rousset, whose direction suggests he believes in every bar; he draws playing and singing of fiery power and conviction from his splendid orchestra and chorus. Judith van Wanjroij is a compelling Camille…It’s unlikely to be given a performance as persuasive as this first recording any time soon.

This tale set in classical Rome, and exploring the conflicting loyalties that the war brings, contains some brilliantly effective and lovely music...Soloists and chorus are excellent, and the playing is scintillatingly, even unremittingly, energetic.

The chorus excel in the battle scenes and intermedii between the acts: Christophe Rousset, conducting Les Talens Lyriques, drives the whole with enormous vitality. But it’s not the emotional subtlety of Mozart that looms over this music; it’s the noble simplicity of Gluck taken to a new level of relentless insistence.