11.   The vocal writing is effective and very well sung by this Royal Opera cast.

12.   The vocal writing is mostly grateful, taking on more angularity and higher pitch when dramatic tensions get screwed tighter.

13.   The vocal writing proves sharply pointed, whether in pithy phrases or glorious extended melodies.

14.   Yet the arias are consistently accomplished, attractive, harmonically interesting, melodically felicitous and full of bravura vocal writing.