I tried to write a review earlier but it doesn't appear to have succeeded, so will try again.Very pleased to have found this version of an opera that appears to be under-recorded. Such a strong cast with these two Queens, Gencer and Verrett. Sound is not perfect, but still very good, and does not detract from the very good voices, Would highly recommend to anyone who likes Donizetti's operas.

Gencer and Verrett brought their celebrated portrayals of the two rival Tudor queens to Naples two years after they had set the opera world on fire in Florence. If possible, they are even more incendiary. Gencer indulges in more scooping than she did in her earlier performance and her overall tone has loosened a bit in the interim, but she she still captures the Scottish queen's volatile nature with uncompromising strength. She now adds a high D-flat (?) to the end of her duet with Leicester and still crowns the end of Act Two with a mind-blowingly loud high D. Her top D at the end of the opera is also more secure.Verrett matches her all the way, perhaps even more confident than before. By this time, she and Gencer were friends; both seem more relaxed than in 1967. Oncina is excellent as Leicester, an ungrateful, but important role. Clabassi shows again what a beautiful, distinctive bass voice he had and Fioravanti is a properly vindictive Cecil. Molinari-Pradelli has things even more in hand and accompanies his singers well.Except for a few fleeting moments of static, the sound is very good.All Donizetti, Gencer, or Verrett fans should have both recordings of this, until recently, underrated opera.Andy's encore of Gencer singing "D'amor sull'ali rosee" from Trovatore shows the Turkish soprano in stunning form. Could Opera Depot make the entire 1957 performance available again? The cast is phenomenal: Gencer, Barbieri, Del Monaco, Bastianini, and Clabassi.

I was a young opera neophite when I first heard this performance. Since then I have become an avid fan of both Leyla Gencer and Shirley Verrett. This performance is fantastic and still remains my very favorite live opera performance of all time. The first act confrontation scene is utterly marvelous. I recommend it from beginning to end. I have never heard another Maria as impressive as Leyla Gencer. James Gentry

What a great recording. How lucky are we to have live recordings of the great Gencer and Verrett is wonderful as always.Thanks Andy!