Picco is the conductor of the Lucia performance, not Mugnai. My apologies to both conductors!

This broadcast marks Callas' first portrayal of Lucia di Lammermoor, a role that would become synonymous with her for the rest of her career. It's remarkable that she is as polished as she is, yet many details are still unsettled. Her singing, by itself is strong, the hooded tone perfect for suggesting the deeply unhappy, fragile Lucia. Her coloratura is very exciting as are her trills. The high notes are in place, but perhaps because of nervous energy, aren't perfect: the E-flat that crowns the Mad Scene cadenza is thin and edgy, the final one at the end of the cabaletta sustained longer and more effectively. Although she always knows exactly where she is in the music her grasp of the words is a little shaky. All of these details though would improve with more performances and experience. Already she shows how much she has to say about the role. She sounds joyous in "Quando rapito" and devastated in the duet with Enrico in Act 2.I have to hand it to Di Stefano: his final scene is shattering, making a real tragedy of the story. He was in excellent voice the night this was recorded. Campolonghi uses his sturdy, rather ordinary baritone very well, ending the first scene on a ringing high G that he holds until almost the final bars have finished. Silva sings a beautiful Raimondo, Dal Monte a bleating Arturo with a good high A. Everyone could've used an extra rehearsal or two. Mugnai holds things together as well as he can, but the orchestra and chorus are mediocre.The sound is clear and on pitch throughout the performance. All students of Lucia or Callas should hear this, just to hear how an iconic portrayal is formed. There were two other Mad Scenes recorded during this run of Lucia, both of which show Callas growing in precision and confidence (they're on YouTube).

The year of the Macberh and the great Norma and Armida. The voice is perfection. Fullblooded runs and an instrumental control of coloratura. A oure revelation. Other people also sang. But you wouldn't want to miss this recording of Callas as a revelatory force of nature.