The Cast ALMANZOR - Manuela Custer AZEMA - Laura Claycomb SULEMANO - Mirco Palazzi ALAMAR - Paul Austin Kelly ALI - Brindley Sherratt OMAR - Ashley Catling Geoffrey Mitchell Choir Academy of St Martin in the Fields CONDUCTOR - Giuliano Carella

International Record Review 'Laura Claycomb moves freely through her flights of coloratura, bright but far from shrill and she spins a nice line... Manuela Custer is on top form. Her voice is produced so flowingly: no gear changes clunk as she smoothly descends to her lower register... Palazzi's strong tone is firmly focused, unstrained, with an orotundity which falls satisfyingly on the ear.'

From the CD booklet: Few operas by a major 19th century composer have experienced comparable neglect. L’esule was apparently produced only once following its 1822 premiere at La Scala, Milan, and remained silent until now. It deserves attention as a pivotal work in Meyerbeer’s output.

Opera Now 'This CD demonstrates Meyerbeer's melodic gifts and his inventive orchestration... it provides manifold opportunities for arias, duets and larger ensembles of conflict, inner and outer, that Meyerbeer could turn to good purpose. There are high quality contributions in particular from Manuela Custer as Almanzor and Laura Claycomb as Azema... Fine playing from the Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields.'