Marvelously theatrical …the spiritual moments glow in a way that is rarely achieved, and the Mariinsky Orchestra plays magnificently from start to finish … besides Gergiev's leadership and the orchestra's playing, the other crucial thing about this set is René Pape's Gurnemanz. His attention never flags, and he looms over the proceedings as rightly he should; wisdom, piety, and justice never sounded this good. Violeta Urmana's Kundry, like all of her work, is vocally remarkable: there's not a weak spot in her voice, even in this difficult-to-cast part.

Classics Today