This recording is a fascinating document, capturing a young Montserrat Caballé before she ascended to the lofty heights of her stardom. Additionally, it offers a rare performance of Richard Strauss' arrangement of Gluck's score. As expected, Strauss leans toward a more romantic orchestral approach, which may feel slightly anachronistic, but it also underscores how ahead of his time Gluck truly was.

Caballé is simply ideal in this role. Her voice embodies both the innocence and the strength one would expect from one of literature's most iconic martyrs.