Mackerras revived Vec Makropulos several times for Sadler's Wells Opera and then a few years later when that organization had changed its name to the English National Opera. This revival is just as good as the 1964 performance (most of the leads are played by the same singers), yet Collier, so marvelous the first time, has found even more colors in her portrayal of the mysterious Emilia Marty. Listen to the final scene to understand what I mean.Again, all the parts are well-sung and acted, the diction very crisp. It needs to be as this is a talky opera. There are no formal arias, duets, trios, etc. Janacek is so skilled he keeps our interest through the entire opera. The sound here is very good though there is the occasional minor radio crackle (it's not obtrusive.)As a filler (Vec Makropulos is only 95 minutes long), Andy gives us Collier in some arias by composers very different from Janacek. Her Act Two Puccini Manon Lescaut arias show a sympathetic interpreter and a good top C. The Verdi Don Carlo last act aria is from a performance that Opera Depot also offers complete: it's worth the investment.

I was lucky staying in London in the late 60's and the 70's because I saw and heard some amazing performances. This was one of them. Collier's voice always seemed to be at the limit of her vocal ability but that brought about a certain frisson to the performances in which she sang.Dempsey was a great character tenor and a damed good actor. The one person who stands out more than any other is Eric Shilling. A man who sang with that superb diction in everything. Many a time I went to the Wells, later the Coliseum just because he was in the cast. You learnt so much from watching him.Mackerras is as usual superb.

Collier also sang Jenufa at Covent Garden with Amy Shuard as the Kostelnicka and Richard Cassilly as Laca. Now that is a recording I would buy!