I'm not sure, but I think this performance marks the role debut of Verrett as Carmen. She is already exceptional as Bizet's heroine, her singing rich and even from top to bottom, her characterization secure and confident. She would, of course, refine her interpretation over the years; listen to her 1973 Covent Garden performance under Solti to hear the results (Opera Depot #11917).Opposite her, George Shirley is just as fine. He is incredibly musical as a singer (listen to how he and Mattioli blend at the end of their duet in Act 1) and charts Jose's growing deterioration clearly as the story unfolds. His account of the Flower aria is beautifully shaped. Mattioli sings her big aria extremely well with a pleasing spin at the top and Chapman, while not possessing a great voice, is completely believable as the self-involved Escamillo. The supporting cast and chorus are good under Schippers' brisk baton (he conducts the opera even faster than on his Decca studio recording). The traditional Choudens version of the score with the Guiraud recitatives is used; I don't think Schippers makes any cuts either. The stage director has the chorus indulge in too many extra cries of enthusiasm for the offstage bull fight at the end, but at least they're involved The sound is listenable enough and pitched correctly though the transfer level is low so you'll need to turn up the volume.