"Man wird Zeuge einer dieser so raren, hochrisikobehafteten Momente, wo eine Sängerin total mit ihrer Rolle verschmilzt. Das kann nur gut gehen, weil sie in Franz-Welser Möst einen grossartigen, ihr Temperament eben noch im Zaum haltenden Partitur-Supervisor im Graben hat"

"Staged in the vast Felsenreitschule in Salzburg, this production is by Italian avantgardist Romeo Castellucci, who also provides sets, costumes and lighting. The result, never less than striking, is mysterious to the point of being enigmatic ... Musically we're on firmer ground. Julian Prégardien makes a finely lyrical Narraboth. Gábor Bretz is a magnificent Jochanaan ... Asmik Grigorian's Salome is charismatic, her pure, true soprano soaring in all the right places and easily riding the orchestral forces. The score's subtleties are flawlessly conveyed by the Vienna Philharmonic under Franz Welser-Möst"

"Editor's choice: Romeo Castellucci's production of Salome bowled me over at last summer's Salzburg Festival. I'm pleased to report that it transfers to the small screen with electrifying power, particularly due to Asmik Grigorian's remarkable debut in the title-role ... I still don't pretend to fathom everything Castellucci does, but repeated viewing has made me admire it even more ... Asmik Grigorian's erotically charged Salome is outstanding ... The Lithuanian soprano sings the role superbly ... She is a terrific actress, too ... Franz Welser-Möst conducts a terrific account of Strauss's score, the Vienna Philharmonic on scintillating form. Not to be missed"

"Den litauiske sopran Asmik Grigorian synger sig ud i alle ekstremer af dette parti, der skifter mellem skønsang, tale og skrig ... De øvrige roller er besat af sangere, der alle har modet til vokalt at slippe de klassiske idealer og nå derud, hvor stemmerne bliver pressede ud over deres yderste ... Castellucci har ikke glemt musikken i sine sceniske idéer - tværtimod - og med Franz Welser-Möst får forestillingen et højspændt musikalsk udtryk på linje med det sceniske"