This is Massenet's Manon, but performed in Italian and considerably abridged. The opening prelude is edited so as to dovetail into the arrival of Manon (the entire opening scene with Guillot, De Bretigny, and the three actresses is cut.) The Cours-la Reine scene (Act Three, scene 1) is also cut entirely though that was common in many theaters at the time (1964). Zeani does not sung the Gavotte or the quartet with the actresses in Act Four. The dialogue has all been changed into recitative as well. This isn't a condemnation, just a report on the edition used.Zeani is a lovely Manon, though more Puccini's than Massenet's. She is very passionate and sings divinely. For high note fanciers, she does sing a great D-flat at the end of the trio in Act Four, but declines to end the act on the (optional) high D. Oncina is a sweet-toned Des Grieux. One gets the impression that his big Act Three aria might be too much for him, but he delivers. The audience vociferously applauds his Dream aria in Act Two. Borriello, Ventriglia, and Bordoni sing their roles very effectively. The unidentified Guillot is excellent. Rapalo leads an enjoyable performance. The sound is basically good mono broadcast, but every act is afflicted with intermittent static. Mostly it's not that intrusive though it threatens to become so in the last ten minutes or so.Fans of the singers should get this; fans of Massenet's opera should use more caution.

Not the best of the divine Zeani: too much of the chest voice, making it more the tragic Puccini heroine rather than the more vulnerable Massenet.