 José van Dam's Golaud managed to elicit compassion despite being altogether the man "fait au fer et au sang" (made of iron and blood).Ruggero Raimondi, a younger-sounding Arkel than some, sang with a praiseworthy "legato".The only disappointment among the soloists was Richard Stilwell, whose Pelléas was "less than sensuous, and nowhere near an expressive match for von Stade's Mélisande".