This is a hot performance of Werther. Tagliavini is a wonderful Werther: passionate, poetic, unafraid to allow his emotions to rule the day yet still in control. The audience adores him. Simionato is similarly passionate. Her gentle sobs as she finally allows herself to weep in the third act are heart-rending. She is equally emotional in the final scene, her anguished final "Tutto e finito!" devastating. Gino Orlando is a strong Alberto and Dora Gatta a knowing Sofia. Capuano leads a direct, smoldering performance that the La Scala audience appreciates though why they don't applaud Simionato's searing letter scene is anyone's guess.The sound (from a broadcast) is very good, BUT the set is almost spoiled by the wretched file corruption that begins in the middle of Act Two and continues to the end of the disc. Fortunately, Acts Three and Four are fine.