Debussy: Pelléas et Mélisande - Schwarzkopf, Haefliger, Roux, Petri, Sciutti, Calabrese; Karajan. Roma, 1954

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For a cast made up of mostly non-French speakers, this performance still manages to capture the unique flavor of Debussy's quintessentially French soundscape.
Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, as Mélisande, embodies all of the character's mystery and restrained passion.
The baritonal range of Pélleas means that Ernst Haefliger never really gets a chance to show off his superb tenor voice. However he brings a strong commitment to the part and the contrast in color between him and the Goloud of Michel Roux helps to highlight their rivalry.
Generally I prefer to hear a boy in the role of Yniold, but in the very capable hands of Graziella Sciutti I am willing to make an exception.
Herbert von Karajan brings out the romanticism of Debussy's lush score.