“--- it’s a pleasure to report that Die vier Grobiane could hardly be better served than it is here. The cast is strong, with enough tonal variety to help us tell the characters apart. Christine Buffle triumphs in Felice’s breathless, high-lying ‘patter’ number, and the young lovers (Christina Landshamer and Markus Francke) are ideally fresh. Zoryana Kushpler’s sonorous contralto makes hay as Lunardo’s young9ish) new wife; Margarita’s exhanges with her stepdaughter have a subtly competitive edge that means they scratch a little deeper than the rest of this genial score. Ulf Schirmer’s operatic releases from CPO are always worth hearing, and this – his second Wolf-Ferrari project for the company, following Die neugierigen Frauen a decade ago – adds another jewel to his crown. Such a dainty confection needs everything to fall into place, and Schirmer’s impeccable timing, added to his care for vocal and instrumental balance, manages the trick to perfection. Given demonstration-quality recording, minimal audience noise, good notes, and even a full libretto and translation, here is a set to cherish, of an unassuming but gracious entertainment.”