I hesitated to get this set because I love Manon's (optional) high Ds. Caballe, especially in 1968, had high notes to burn and occasionally

Caballe had great high notes, especially in 1968, but she rarely ventured higher than D-flat though she did occasionally risk a D at the end of certain ensembles (Maria Stuarda, Anna Bolena, and Il Barbiere di Siviglia come to mind). This partiality to the higher options is, of course, unfair to Caballe and other sopranos who aren't comfortable with those notes; Massenet wrote lower variants that are just as acceptable. And Caballe is a wonderful Manon. She captures all the young lady's determination, hedonism, and charm. She is heard here in her prime, the voice beautiful and bold. The top C she sings at the end of "De lor! De lor!" quartet in Act Four is thrilling and her death scene, punctuated with some very realistic coughs, very moving.Vanzo sings Des Grieux to the manner born. He caresses the phrases of the "En ferment les yeux" with silken tone and rises ably to the challenges of "Ah! Fuyez!" in the Saint Sulpice scene. He was truly one of a kind. John Darrenkamp is a first-rate Lescaut, a decade or so before he joined the Met as an excellent comprimario. Felix Giband is a splendid Comte des Grieux and Diego Monjo a funny, slimy Guillot. The chorus sings in Italian. Guadagno gives a much fuller account of the score than was usually heard in those days. We not only get the first scene of Act Three (the Cours-la-Reine scene), but almost all the ballet music. The sound is very clear and listenable. All fans of the opera and/or the singers should get this.

I like beautiful voice of Caballe as Manon. That is her second great recording of Manon (first is her Manon from New Orleans 1967 on VAI). I like Vanzo and his rendition of Des Grieux two arias, his French style and noble phrasing. I enjoyed rich, powerful voices of John Derrenkamp as Lescaut and Felix Giband as Comte des Grieux. It is vivid, dynamic recording under competent conductor Anton Guadagno (especially first CD is nicely done). It is great to hear La Superba as Manon in her native Barcelona. Sound is good, also.