Poulenc did something deeply fashionable in the mid-1950s when he wrote 'Dialogues of the Carmelite' - in an era of modernism he created an opera that was dramatically coherent and musically intensely pleasurable. 'It seems', he wrote, 'that my Carmelite can only sing tonal music. You music forgive them.' This is a powerful work, an almost disturbing experience, as herioc opera should be, and a must for anyone who loves the medium. Poulenc's score is incredibly complex and richly emotional, with audible elements of Mussorgsky, Debussy and Fauré. This recording is taken from the critically acclaimed ENO staging. 'The Times' wrote of the performances 'Danile was able brilliantly to capture the piece at the heart of the work and the final, absolute silence was mesmerizing'. Rupert Christiansen of 'The Daily Telegraph' wrote 'Paul Daniel's conducting charged ENO's orchestra to the best playing I have heard it give for years, particularly in its relish of the exquisite writing for the woodwind'. Available at mid-price for the two CD-set, this is an electrifying recording of an inspired staging. 'Catrin Wyn-Davies acted Blanche most affectingly, unfailingly catching the contrasting facets of the character.' - Opera Magazine 'Josephine Barstow as the assistant prioress brought both a vocal and dramatic command to her role, as did Catrin Wyn-Davies to the central character, Blanche de la Force.' - Online Review London