None is really flesh and blood, though the cast of singers is superb and all the women look gorgeous. The villains are really cutouts and the audience hisses them accordingly. Very little carries any visceral emotional force. Fink is skilled though not very strikingly original composer. The first impression of the majority of listeners is likely to be one of declamatory vocal lines and some orchestral accompaniment.
Fink uses chamber sized groupings a great deal, and there is considerable variety in the scoring.
It was one of those rare casts where everybody sang superbly and looked their parts at the same time. Cox was especially outstanding. If this opera is ever done again anywhere, it's unlikely to have a better roster. I will be attending the opera again Friday evening. I want to pay more attention to the music.