I was initially skeptical of Jon Vickers's late-career pivot to the title role of Andrea Chénier. Conventional wisdom suggests that a tenor who has taken on roles such as Tristan may find it difficult to return to the higher-lying demands of the Italian repertory. Yet Vickers confounds those expectations, delivering a thrilling Chénier with torrents of sound across an impressively even range, including some spectacular B-flats, all while maintaining the beauty and lyricism so crucial to the part.

He is partnered by Ilva Ligabue, whose distinctive voice finds a natural home in the role, conveying the character's guileless hope amid the anguish of her surroundings. Silvano Carroli brings a welcome sense of nobility to Gérard, while Lili Chookasian nearly steals the show in her brief but memorable appearance as Madelon.