Despite how this may sound, it actually worked. There are a couple of irritants, the sheep-dressed men and Ercole attired like a sumo wrestler were touches that felt juvenile and out of place and the same can be said for the dancing of Tadashi Endo, which would belong much better in another production. However, the production does look wonderful, the light colours are vivid and suit the style of the production and the sets are remarkably evocative. The staging on the most part is inventive without being distasteful, for a concept production and one that is far removed from the usual setting of the story it is tasteful and is done with subtlety. The relationships, conflicts and detail in characterisation is a real high point in this regard, like with Alceste transforming into a samurai warrior accompanied by a dancer that symbolises her jealousy. Much of the drama has intensity and poignancy in equal measure, while the dancing is very graceful-looking and fits very well within the concept and not seeming that irrelevant. The picture and sound quality are excellent and the video directing is unobtrusive. The orchestral playing is stylish yet allowing the depth of Handel's beautiful(some of his most beautiful) music to come out, while the conducting is sympathetic to the drama as well while giving it tightness as well. The performances are fine, particularly from Marie Arnet and Kirsten Blaise, their emotional ranges are passionate and they sing with flexibility and bell-like clarity. Tim Mead is in great voice, a very sweet and well-projected voice capable of some steel, and acts meaningfully. David Bates and William Berger(even in the case of Berger with suffering some of the worst staging and with the costume that came off the least effectively, the others were quite nice) sing beautifully. All in all, musically excellent and good-looking visually, a couple of bits of staging don't work but despite how it sounds Handel oriental-style does come off not too shabbily. 8/10 Bethany Cox
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