Carol Neblett, in the relatively short role of the Queen of Sheba, manages to steal the show. Spiro Malas strikes an impressive blend of comic timing and regal gravitas as King Dodon. Enrico di Giuseppe had seemingly endless vocal range, making him ideal in the stratospherically high role of the Astrologer. A young Ruth Welting sings the Golden Cockerel and left me feeling a bit cheated that the role didn't give her more of a chance to show off her unique brilliance.