By BERNARD HOLLAND [NY Times, 28 February 2006]

"Lakmé" is another operatic triumph of unquenchable melody over theatrical forgettability. The "Bell Song" is an Olympic event for coloratura sopranos. The Lakmé-Mallika duet has sung itself into the hearts of even the most anti-opera television viewer: once a manifestation of Oriental languor, now a commercial jingle exhorting the easy joys of air travel.