Triumph of the Weak
... A substantial part of the musical maelstrom created by Poulenc's opera, however, emerges from the pit. Not from the separate roots of his musical language, among these sounds of old sacral music as well as reminiscences of Puccini's striking music, but in Poulenc's ingenious mixing of styles and his rhythmical refinement, making this music quite addictive. From this Patrik Ringborg and the Staatsorchester Kassel accomplish an equally dense as light play of colours and motifs.
Transfiguration? Too beautiful, to be true? Poulenc's music mustn't yell to be dramatical. But it glows and elicits something like love for the characters. Long applause and bravos in the not quite sold-out opera house.