Though the sound quality presents some limitations, this scorching performance of Pagliacci captures the raw energy that makes verismo opera so gripping. Mario Del Monaco is in his element as Canio, a role that perfectly matches both his voice and temperament—his performance is marked by relentless dramatic fire and heroic top notes. Cornell MacNeil proves an ideal foil, meeting Del Monaco's intensity with equal vocal power and expressive depth. One unusual feature of this performance is the absence of the chorus in Act II; the commedia begins without the usual ensemble passages, giving the act a stripped-back dramatic urgency all its own.