Opera
'Despite its ultimately Biblical source, the bulk of the plot and the audience's time are taken up with a relatively standard three-cornered relationship in which the loyally monotheistic Sela is the butt of the anger of her tenor husband Cadmo, who goes whoring after idols, while her supposed mezzo friend Ada goes whoring after him in a bid to up her status as just another concubine...
Majella Cullagh's Sela is beautifully voiced and seeks out the emotional truth of the character's changing situation. Manuela Custer explores fully the fiery jealousy of her tempestuous rival, Ada, with Colin Lee supplying lyrical point and dramatic definition as Cadmo... All the smaller roles are well up to Opera Rara's regular high standards, and the conductor Guiliano Carella brings spirit and intermittent grandeur to his task.'