From the start of his recording it is clear that Sinopoli is intent upon a dramatic reading . . . I enjoyed the contributions of the soprano and the tenor. Mariana Zvetkova possesses a strong, well-focused voice and, where necessary, she can ride comfortably over the top of the full ensemble. Jan Botha sings with pleasing, unforced tone and he, too, has power in reserve when it is called for . . . Sinopoli's singers suit his interpretation perfectly . . . The Sinopoli reading is extremely dramatic. However, I most certainly do not find it dramatic just for the sake of drama. He presents a completely valid view of the work and newcomers to the piece in particular may respond very favourably to a red-blooded treatment such as this. I enjoyed the performance very much, finding it compelling and cogent. The recorded sound is rich and full. Although this is advertised as a 'live' account there is no trace of audience noise.