Handel: Xerxes [Serse] (opera recorded 1988)

"a landmark in the reassessment of Handel's genius...Mackerras understood Handel's music intimately...Murray's Xerxes is unfailingly elegant, whether serenading a plant in the shadow of Roubiliac's statue of Handel, or pausing over a demitasse. Less delicate of voice, Robson gives the most expressive performance." (BBC Music)

"This 1988 performance features some of the outstanding English-speaking singers around at that time. All are good in their roles and if there are a few moments of vocal imperfection they are more than compensated for in outstanding acting and decorated singing. [Murray and Rigby] are quite magnificent...With a trimmed-down band he manages a near Baroque rendering of his own erudite edition of Handel's even longer score." (MusicWeb)