Barnes & Noble

Since two of the world's hottest young opera singers record for the same company, an album of duets was a no-brainer. Together, Bartoli and Terfel have what folks in the biz might call "chemistry." But what raises this album above the ordinary starry collaboration is the palpable sense of theater. Singing recitatives as well as duets and arias, mezzo and baritone create mini-scenes in which their characters immediately spring to life. The selections -- by Mozart, Rossini, and Donizetti -- were wisely chosen, and the singers clearly love every minute of their time together. In fact, this is such an ideal honeymoon, one can't help wondering what other delights this new musical marriage will bring us. Andrew Farach-Colton

Gramophone

Splendidly well-matched duettists, Bartoli and Terfel...are as vivid a pair of vocal comedians-and-charmers as any in the business. The fatal thing would be if they tried to outdo each other, but, to all aural appearances, they do not: they spark naturally and nicely, and gain accordingly, both as individuals and as an act. John Steane