I wasn't familiar with this opera, but I was thrilled by the performance. The singing was exquisite, but the HD environment allows you to see every nuance of facial and body gestures, and it was astonishing to see such mastery of the dramatic potentials of this work, way beyond the singing, from the tears on one soprano's face to the tongue gyrating during a collatura's high notes. Kudos to the director, the choreographer, the set designer, and the costumer, in addition to a fine, fine cast of talented musical actors... for acting was what brought this musically rich but rather odd story to such vivid life! And the mechanical doll, Olympia, stole the show with her unbelievable delivery!!!