To encounter Mme. shopping on NY's streets and have an adoring sentence or two I could never fathom how that deep contralto could produce the most silvery tones ever heard. She was truly a 'grand Dame' whom you loved immediately. Penelope has its moments mainly in the orchestra but Crespin is in good voice as is the rest of the cast. Static though it is, it has its effect at the end.

As others have said, this is a curious, quirky piece. There are some beautiful moments, although the hoped-for duet when Ulisse’s identity is revealed is a little cursory. However, by the end I was won over by the charm of the piece, and that is not to damn with faint praise.Crespin sounds simply gorgeous and Guy Chauvet is a fine partner for one of my favourite sopranos.The sound is acceptable, but there are some tuning issues in the orchestra pit....

It is a little odd that Faure after searching so long for a subject for his particular musical talents should settle on a rather linear telling of the Ulysses legend. What sets this work apart is Faure's orchestration, here an expressive Deus ex Machina, full of interesting harmonics and turmoil. The musical form is mostly attractive lyrical recitative which swells impressively in moments of intensity.Regime Crespin is a dignified and beautiful sounding Penelope and Guy Chauvet as Ulysses has an heroic ring to his voice when needed.The sound is basically good, although a low level electrical interference which causes momentary losses of sound at very low levels is at times distracting.

A strange static piece with some wonderful moments