Conductor Kenneth Montgomery showed his devotion to all the singers. Twelve years ago Montgomery led two legendary performances of Rossini's Tancredi with Nelly Miricioiu in the cast, amongst others.

Montgomery had chosen a striking seating arrangement for the Radio Symphony Orchestra, which played excellently. Double basses in two groups left and right, violins split, cellos and violas in the middle with the harp (so important for the Willow Song) to the front amongst the first violins. The clarity of Rossini's score was hereby well served and Montgomery showed himself to have an outstanding sensibility for the ravishing build up in a Rossini finale.